Could the White Bear Finally Be Safe?

An interesting development in a recent interview with David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, in which Braves president of baseball operations, John Hart, mentions some interesting things about the lineup for 2015. It is clearly worth a good read:

Q. It’ not like you’re going to do as some have suggested and trade Kimbrel, trade Gattis, blow it all up…

A. No, not going to do that. We want these guys. There’s some young guys here who are going to be a big part in what we’re doing in ’15, ’16, and are certainly going to be here in ’17 and be a part of the core of that club. It’s who else can we keep putting around them, what kind of depth can we give this club. That’s sort of what we’re grinding with every day.

Q. Priorities for the rest of the winter? Get a starting pitcher and – well, I guess backup catcher, you can’t really doing anything there until you know the situation in left, as it pertains to Gattis?

A. Exactly right. I think the biggest priority is a starting pitcher. You’ve got (Nick) Markakis and Justin (Not anymore, sadly) on the outfield corners. You’re hoping B.J. (Upton) is … you know. (Yeah we do, even more sadly) And then you look up at (third baseman Chris) Johnson and (shortstop Andrelton) Simmons. We’ll probably look a little bit at (Alberto) Callaspo (at second base); we might keep looking a little bit at another infielder, whether an everyday guy or an extra guy. And then you’ve got (first baseman Freddie) Freeman and Gattis. That’s the club. And the rotation, we’re four-deep with young starters. We’d like to add a fifth and even a sixth. And our bullpen, we’ve got (Craig) Kimbrel, (David) Carpenter, (Jim) Johnson, that’s a nice little back end.

Permit me a bit of cautious optimism on my part, but does this mean Evan will be safe from trade? I still can't fully trust that John Hart is telling the honest 100% truth, though I really want to. But with comments like these, it makes the anticipation grow that much more for me and all other fans of El Oso Blanco. God willing, he is an Atlanta Brave come spring training in 2015.

If Spring Training looks like this, I will be one happily devoted bear cub!