A look at five storylines for the National League East entering spring training:
ALL EYES ON OLIVERA
The Braves have pinned much of their offensive hopes on 30-year-old Hector Olivera, a Cuban defector who was acquired from the Dodgers last summer. Olivera is expected to take over in left field after failing to impress much in a brief stint with Atlanta, batting .253 with two homers and 11 RBIs. The Braves are counting on him being a .300-type hitter who can drive in runs and provide occasional power. During workouts in Puerto Rico earlier this summer, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer was impressed with Olivera's adjustment to the outfield: "I was so impressed by his work ethic, his intensity, his focus and concentration to detail. I was really impressed by how much more athletic he was in the outfield."
REBUILT BULLPEN
Washington traded Drew Storen to Toronto for Ben Revere, and opted to keep Jonathan Papelbon, while reconstructing the middle relief corps, adding Trevor Gott, Oliver Perez, Yusmeiro Petit and Shawn Kelley. ''We feel good about where we're at in the bullpen,'' GM Mike Rizzo said. ''We've got depth. We've got quality. We have guys who pitched in an array of roles in the back end of games.''
CELEBRITY HITTING COACH
Barry Bonds will work full time for the first time since his final season as a steroids-tainted home run king in 2007. He'll be the Marlins' hitting coach, and they can use his advice. Last year they ranked next to last in the majors in runs and home runs. Bonds will likely hear some jeers around the NL this season, but his return to the majors has prompted only cheers from Marlins players. Among them: Miami's own all-time home run king, Giancarlo Stanton. "It's definitely going to be great for me and the whole team to pick his brain, and learn from what he's gone through, and how the game has changed since, too," Stanton said. "It will help with all that."
FINDING HIS FLO
Following the additions of Neil Walker and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, fan favorite Wilmer Flores has a new job as a utility infielder with platoon opportunities at first and second. He will likely spend time this spring trying to get comfortable at first base, an unfamiliar spot. Flores, who hit 16 homers last year, could also spell captain David Wright at third as he deals with spinal stenosis. Ruben Tejada supplanted Flores as the starting shortstop last season but his role is uncertain coming off that broken leg in the playoffs.
WHO'S PITCHING IN PHILLY?
The Phillies added veteran starters Jeremy Hellickson and Charlie Morton to lead a rotation that includes former first-round pick Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff. Mark Appel, Vincent Velasquez and Brett Oberholtzer - all acquired in the Giles' trade - will compete for the fifth spot along with holdovers Adam Morgan and David Buchanan. Veteran relievers David Hernandez, Andrew Bailey, Edward Mujica and Ernesto Frieri were brought in to compete for spots in the back of the bullpen. Each has closing experience.
