The Twins wanted to keep Rule 5 Draft Pick Scott Diamond so they traded 23-year old righty Billy Bullock for that right. Bullock pitched in 58 games in A+AA-ball last year and he was 2-8 with 27 saves, a 3.53 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Bullock whiffed a stunning 105 batters in only 74 innings last year but he also walked 43 batters which is too many. Bullock has now pitched in 91 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 6-8 with 38 saves, a 3.18 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Bullock has a nice upside if he can improve his control, so I like this deal from the Braves’ end.

The Braves have released right reliever Scott Proctor and waived outfielder Joe Mather. Proctor pitched in 10 games (0 starts) this spring for the Braves and he was 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. Joe Mather played in 23 games this spring and he was 7 of 51 (.137 avg, .390 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Braves might keep Mather in the minors if he clears waivers, which is likely.

UPDATE: (4/3/2011) - The Braves have re-signed righty reliever Scott Proctor and they have sent him to AAA.

The Braves wanted to sign a manager who they were comfortable with to replace the legendary Bobby Cox. So they signed 48-year old Fredi Gonzalez to take over as manager. He was a coach for the Braves before he got his big shot to manage the Marlins. He was fired by the Marlins last year after they got off to a 33-36 (47.6%) start to the 2010 season. Gonzalez compiled a 275-279 (49.6%) record in his four years with the Marlins which was pretty impressive when you consider that he was operating with a very low payroll. I have a feeling that Gonzalez is going to do a very solid job for the Braves in 2011.

22-year old righty Craig Kimbrel and 26-year old lefty Jonny Venters will likely share the closer’s job for the Braves in 2011. Kimbrel comes into this season as the Braves’ #5 overall prospect. He pitched in 21 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 4-0 with 1 save, a 0.44 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He only gave up 9 hits while whiffing 40 batters in his first 20 2/3 innings of his major league career, which is amazing! But, he also walked 16 batters which is way too many. Kimbrel also pitched in 48 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-2 with 23 saves, a 1.62 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.

Jonny Venters burst onto the scene in 2010 with the Atlanta Braves. Venters pitched in 79 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 4-4 with 1 save, a 1.95 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He only gave up 61 hits in 83 innings pitched, while whiffing 93 batters as he was awesome! Kimbrel & Venters will likely save 40 games between them in 2011.

32-year old righty Peter Moylan is a workhorse. He pitched in 85 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 6-2 with 1 save, a 2.97 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Moylan has now pitched in 274 games (0 starts) in his first five years with the Braves and he is 17-8 with 3 saves, a 2.58 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Moylan will likely pitch in the most games for the Braves in 2011 if he can stay healthy.

26-year old lefty Eric O’Flaherty really pitched well for the Braves last year and he will have a key role again in 2011. He pitched in 56 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. O’Flaherty has now pitched in 134 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Braves and he is 5-3 with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. O’Flaherty will be the Braves’ go-to situational lefty this year.

34-year old righty Scott Linebrink will likely be the graybeard of the bullpen in 2011. He pitched in 52 games (0 starts) for the White Sox last year and he was 3-2 with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Linebrink has now pitched in 543 games (6 starts) in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 38-27 with 7 saves, a 3.50 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. I look for him to rebound with a good year as he has pitched his best ball in the N.L.

33-year old lefty George Sherrill had a year to forget in 2010. He pitched in 65 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last year and he was 2-2 with a 6.69 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP. Sherrill has now pitched in 389 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 16-16 with 56 saves, a 3.76 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Sherrill is a good bet to get his career going back in the right direction in 2011 for the Braves.

34-year old righty Scott Proctor pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.35 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has now pitched in 268 games (1 start) in his first six years in the majors and he is 16-10 with 1 save, a 4.46 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Proctor is a longshot to help the Braves much in 2011.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BRAVES BULLPEN IN 2011: B+

The Braves have lost 26-year old lefty reliever Lee Hyde on waivers to the Nationals and they have also lost 23-year old lefty starter Jose Ortegano on waivers to the Yankees. Hyde pitched in 51 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 4-6 with 8 saves, a 3.41 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Ortegano pitched in 28 games (27 starts) in A+AAA-ball last year and he was 5-15 with a 5.98 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP. The Braves likely won’t miss either of these guys too much, but, with Hyde going to the Nationals he could haunt them down the road.