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NL East: Team needs, possible fits for MLB draft

Braves GM John Coppolella has a farm system that's teeming with talent and is set to pick third overall in the draft. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

For the fourth straight year, we're doing a comprehensive audit of every organization in baseball leading up to the MLB draft.

By examining where each team's strengths and weaknesses lie -- and with a working knowledge of its typical draft strategy and tendencies -- we can get a sense of which player each team will select when the draft begins.

Click on the player names of the possible fits to get a full scouting report for that player. The number in parentheses in the bonus-pool area is the player's rank among MLB teams, from most money (Reds are first) to least (Cubs at 30th).

Division-by-division draft outlook

AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West


Atlanta Braves
First pick: No. 3 overall
Bonus pool: $12,385,200 (4th)

System strength: The best system in baseball is an ice cream sundae of pitching topped with two of the game's better middle-infield prospects. It's only going to get sweeter with the draft and a highly touted upcoming international class.

System weakness: Aside from unrefined slugger Austin Riley, the system doesn't have much power. Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies could be future All-Stars, but neither of them is going to hit 30-plus bombs.

Recent top picks
2015: Kolby Allard, LHP, No. 14
2014: Braxton Davidson, 1B, No. 32
2013: Jason Hursh, RHP, No. 31
2012: Lucas Sims, RHP, No. 21
2011: Sean Gilmartin, LHP, No. 28

Possible fits

Jason Groome, LHP, Barnegat (New Jersey) HS: Groome is the most talented player in the draft, but the recent track record of high school pitching selected near the top of the draft is not good. Atlanta's system is strong enough that the Braves can probably afford to take a risk and live with it if Groome is a bust, but taking another arm doesn't exactly do much to diversify the kind of talent currently atop the system.

Corey Ray, OF, Louisville: Ray, or a college bat like his, makes sense for a system teeming with pitching. If Kyle Lewis gets past the Reds at No. 2, he or Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel could be possibilities, with Lewis having the highest ceiling and Senzel the highest floor of the three.

Fallen high school arms: The Braves pick at Nos. 3, 40 and 44. They could cut a deal at No. 3, especially with a college bat, then find a fallen first-round talent at 40 who they could still afford to sign. The actions of the Padres and Cardinals, who both have multiple picks between Nos. 3 and 40, could really affect the Braves.


Miami Marlins
First pick: No. 7
Bonus pool: $6,445,900 (21st)