The World Series championship signs are everywhere at the Atlanta Braves' spring training home.
A flag proclaiming their 2021 title flies in CoolToday Park's left field in North Port, Florida. There are other reminders on the video board, atop the Braves' dugout, outside the stadium and on prominent display in the clubhouse.
That's just fine with pitcher Kyle Muller.
"Oh yeah!" the 24-year-old left-hander said. "When you accomplish something like that, you want that up there. ... Being able to close it out last year, you want that anywhere."
Muller paused and then added, "Anywhere and everywhere!"
The Braves followed their fourth consecutive National League East Division title with their first World Series championship since 1995, beating the Houston Astros in six games.
The core of the team returns, with a very notable exception: The Braves failed to re-sign veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman when they balked at giving the 2020 NL MVP and popular team leader the sixth year he instead received when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the rivals Atlanta beat last October in an NL Championship Series that went six games.
Atlanta tried to fill the void by trading four top prospects to the Oakland Athletics for Matt Olson, who recently turned 28 and is four years younger than Freeman. A day after the trade, the team announced a $168 million, eight-year deal that is set to keep Olson in Atlanta at least through 2029. It is the largest contract in Braves history.
AP photo by Steve Helber / Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson heads to the field for the start of a spring training baseball game against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday at CoolToday Park in North Port, Fla.Soon after losing Freeman, the Braves signed former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen to a one-year deal, beefing up a bullpen that proved more than capable in the postseason last year.
Will Smith was one of baseball's best closers with 37 saves last season, but he gladly accepted the move to a set-up role to make room for Jansen, who had 38 saves with the Dodgers. Another addition to the bullpen is right-hander Collin McHugh, who can take a late-game role or pitch multiple innings.
Right-hander Spencer Strider, 23, is considered a possible future closer. For this spring, he is a candidate for one of the final spots in the starting rotation. His fastball was clocked at 100 mph in a recent outing while throwing 2 1/3 innings without allowing a hit. Strider quickly rose through four minor league stops last season before making his MLB debut with two appearances with Atlanta.
The Braves know they play in a tough division, with the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies making big offseason additions. Atlanta reliever Tyler Matzek said those World Series signs will be motivation for other teams.
"I think it reminds us that we have a target on our back and we're ready to defend that title this year," he said. I think we surprised a lot of people last year. I don't think we surprised ourselves. We're ready to show this year it wasn't a fluke."
Atlanta opens the regular season Thursday, when the Cincinnati Reds visit for an 8 p.m. game that will be televised by ESPN. The World Series banner that will be displayed at Truist park will be unveiled that night, and players will receive their championship rings in a ceremony two nights later.
The lineup that starts the season won't be at full strength.
The Braves are being careful to avoid rushing the return of All-Star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who missed the second half of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee and is expected to return in May. There is a possibility he could be cleared to serve as the designated hitter before he plays in right field.
Among other key players back in the deep lineup are third baseman Austin Riley, second baseman Ozzie Albies and shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Marcell Ozuna is returning after his arrest last year on charges of aggravated assault after police officers said they witnessed him attacking his wife. He was placed on administrative leave during Major League Baseball's investigation. He said he has completed a pretrial diversion program necessary to have the charges dropped.
Ozuna is expected to play more left field the first month of the season - as Acuña continues to recover - before settling in at designated hitter, which has expanded to the NL as part of baseball's new labor deal. The NL also had the DH in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when Ozuna hit .338 and led the league with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs in his first year with the Braves.
Jackson injured
Luke Jackson, a key part of the bullpen last year, has ligament damage in his right elbow, the Braves announced Saturday. The team said the 30-year-old right-hander is having a "comprehensive evaluation" and there's no timetable for his return.
The Braves said an MRI revealed damage to the ulnar collateral ligament. Jackson had the test after he was shut down for a week and then had renewed discomfort when he resumed throwing.
Problems with the UCL can lead to Tommy John surgery, which would end Jackson's season and require a lengthy recovery and rehabilitation.
Jackson posted 18 saves in 2019 and has since served as one of the team's top setup men. He was 2-2 with a career-best 1.98 ERA in 71 regular-season games in 2021. He did not allow a run in three World Series games, giving up one hit in 3 2/3 innings against Houston.
If Jackson is unavailable, McHugh's role becomes especially important as another right-hander in the bullpen.