IMO it’ll be another transition year with mainly prospects playing. Maybe we have a Braves like year where we’re competing a year early but we shouldn’t be counting on it.
There’s virtually no chance JD has a 8 WAR season, but if he was brought back and started well he could then be traded to open up 3rd for Vlad. It does sound like the front office don’t want to take that risk though. Whether that’s because they think he’s done health wise, or it’s for payroll reasons, or even they don’t want to block Vlad, we don’t know.