DEPARTURES: RHP John Smoltz (free agent, signed with the Red Sox), LHP Mike Hampton (free agent, signed with the Astros), RHP Jorge Julio (free agent, signed with Brewers).

SPRING FOCUS: Manager Bobby Cox will be working with an almost entirely new rotation -- with the exception of second-year RHP Jair Jurrjens and possibly veteran RHP Jorge Campillo and as-yet unsigned free agent LHP Tom Glavine. General manager Frank Wren is still looking for a power-hitting outfielder; one may emerge from the group that manned left and center last season -- Matt Diaz, Gregor Blanco and Josh Anderson -- but a midseason trade is a possibility.

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Derek Lowe

2. RHP Jair Jurrjens

3. RHP Kenshin Kawakami

4. RHP Javier Vazquez

5. RHP Jorge Campillo

Remember last year's expected Opening Day rotation? RHP John Smoltz, RHP Tim Hudson, LHP Tom Glavine, LHP Mike Hampton? That blew up in a hurry. Smoltz and Hampton left as free agents. Hudson is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and might return in August. Glavine, rehabbing after left flexor tendon surgery, remains weeks away from knowing whether he can pitch and has not yet been re-signed. General manager Frank Wren left no stone unturned in the rotation's near total makeover, including consulting with the Japanese consul.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

LHP Mike Gonzalez (closer)

RHP Rafael Soriano

RHP Blaine Boyer

RHP Manny Acosta

LHP Jeff Ridgway

RHP Buddy Carlyle

RHP Jeff Bennett

A healthy Gonzalez in the closer's role makes everything different, allowing everyone else to fill a more suitable role, especially when RHP Peter Moylan returns after his Tommy John rehab, which could be as early as May. And the Braves still hope they can bring back free agent LHP Will Ohman.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Josh Anderson or Gregor Blanco

2. SS Yunel Escobar

3. 3B Chipper Jones

4. C Brian McCann

5. 2B Kelly Johnson

6. RF Jeff Francoeur

7. LF Matt Diaz

8. 1B Casey Kotchman

Manager Bobby Cox is inclined to keep McCann in the cleanup position where he finished last season, despite the fact that McCann gets regular days off: "He did a pretty good job there, don't you think?" McCann hit .301 with 87 RBIs in 509 at-bats over 145 games.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

OF Josh Anderson or Gregor Blanco

INF Omar Infante

INF Martin Prado

C David Ross or C Clint Sammons

INF Greg Norton

Manager Bobby Cox and general manager Frank Wren are counting on the versatility of Martin Prado -- who can play all infield positions -- and Omar Infante -- who can shuttle between the infield and left field -- to cover the inevitable injuries. Or to take over a position if the incumbent struggles.

TOP ROOKIES: Atlanta doesn't expect RHP Tommy Hanson or OF Jordan Schafer to make the Opening Day roster, but seeing them in midseason is not far-fetched. These two are right on the cusp.

Hanson, 22, is the first pitcher in the 17-year history of the Arizona Fall League to be named MVP, which earned him a non-roster invitation to spring training. He has yet to play Class AAA ball, so if that's where he ends up, he'll take it in stride. General manager Frank Wren is adamant about not rushing Hanson to the majors.

Schafer, 22, was the heir apparent in center field last season before a 50-game suspension for testing positive for HGH set him back. Then he pressed at Class AA, trying to prove his stats weren't artificial. He finished with a .269 average, with 10 home runs, 51 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 84 games.

MEDICAL WATCH:

3B Chipper Jones (acute right shoulder tendinitis) spent the offseason resting, then strengthening his shoulder. His goal is the same this year as it always has been: play in 150 games. Management thinks 120 games is more realistic.

RHP Tim Hudson (Tommy John surgery on right elbow in August 2008) has begun tossing in a straight line -- as opposed to lobbing a baseball -- and is taking his cue from what has become the norm for other pitchers when he says he's targeting an August return.

RHP Peter Moylan (Tommy John surgery on right elbow in May 2008) is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but he is pushing himself to be ready shortly after the anniversary of his surgery.

RHP Rafael Soriano (right ulnar nerve transposition surgery in August 2008) is thought to be ready to throw in spring training, but no one has heard definitively, including manager Bobby Cox.

LHP Tom Glavine (left flexor tendon surgery in August 2008) is a free agent, and he might retire if no Braves contract is forthcoming, but that decision won't come until he sees what he can do in spring training. He did not participate in the team's early throwing program the first week of February at Turner Field.