The Atlanta Braves and the Remaining Available Top Free Agents
Oct 17, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) gets ready to take batting practice before game three of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Sure it’s January now and the pitchers and catchers are set to report to Orlando in just 6 more weeks. That doesn’t mean that the Atlanta Braves aren’t still looking and lurking. Anyone of interest still out there?
According to the MLBTR Free Agent Tracker tool, there are still roughly 140 (+/-) players technically looking for a contract at this point in the off-season.
Of course several of them are going to have difficulty. You might even recognize some of the names further down that chart, such as former Atlanta Braves players A.J. Pierzynski, Erick Aybar, and Gordon Beckham.
Don’t expect the Braves to be ringing their phones any time soon.
There’s a host of others, though – some still coming off injury, many needing a place to prove themselves, others on the fringe of retirement… and most of them are also players that the Braves would have no interest in whatsoever.
But are there any? For Atlanta or their NL East rivals? Let’s look.
Oct 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Mark Trumbo (45) celebrates with third base coach Bobby Dickerson (11) after hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning in the American League wild card playoff baseball game at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
The Top Unemployed Free Agents
I won’t go through all 143 names. But it is worth going through the MLBTR original Top 50 and noting those still after a job.
With regard to the pitchers, I’ll make three general statements:
The ‘All-Unsigned’ Team
Unlike last season, in which the Braves made a late run at Justin Upton, that won’t happen this time – Atlanta has no purpose in talking with his representatives. The Mets? They should, but won’t. I expect he won’t get any other looks in the NL, either.
That pesky qualifying offer thing is gonna be a real problem for Bautista. Trumbo too.
I expect he could end up as an injury-replacement guy for some random team this Spring. The Marlins need him… but probably won’t bite.
That’s the list… MLBTR went on to mention some ‘honorable mentions’ to their Top 50.
Of those, Colby Lewis looks like a possibility for the Marlins and Colby Rasmus looks like a possibility for the Braves as a 4th outfielder… if he’d take $3 million or less.
In the case of Rasmus, he hasn’t hit very well in most of his major league seasons… the exception being a .276 year with .840 OPS in 2013. Still, he has some power and that might be appealing for a bench role… plus he can play all of the outfield positions.
Other obvious names that Atlanta would be connected to in that same context: Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson.
One more thing of note to put a wrap on this…
Sep 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier (21) hits a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
How Much for Power?
Though I didn’t personally catch this, I heard that John Smoltz mentioned Todd Frazier as a possibility for the Braves last night (Tuesday, 1/3) on the MLB Network.
Smoltz just said he would see a Todd Frazier in the @Braves lineup
— Adolfo R Rivera (@Bravesfan1313) January 3, 2017
I have been an advocate for obtaining Frazier to upgrade the third base position… mostly while he was still a Red just after the 2015 season ended. Recently, I also mentioned him in the context of (primarily) the pursuit of Chris Sale.
In the meantime, of course, the Braves may have obtained “Frazier Light” in the person of Sean Rodriguez. He’s not gonna hit 40 bombs, but should be a better offensive threat overall.
More from Tomahawk Take
This ship has sailed. Frazier, though still just 31 for this coming season, has been struggling to hit the ball at all whenever he doesn’t moon-shot one into the seats. His strikeout rate is climbing, his OBP is dropping, and his hitting average is tanking.
All that said, the White Sox are going to still want prospects for him. It would probably start with Rio Ruiz and then another in the Braves Top 30 or so.
That’s just way too much for a third baseman – even a thumper – in his walk year.
I am all about upgrading the position. I hope Ruiz is that guy, and a platoon with Garcia (.302 vs. LHP, 765 OPS) might be a good way to get him acclimated to the majors while using Garcia in a better (albeit limited) way.
But for Frazier? I don’t think so for Atlanta.
