In what seems like such a silly move, the Atlanta Braves signed minor-leaguer Mitch Jones to a contract so he can compete for a position during spring training.
Jones is no spring chicken. He’s 31 and he spent a decade in the minor leagues. Jones has consistently hit for 20 home runs or more in the past seven years, says AJC’s David O’Brien. His average is just .255 but he has consistently gotten better each year.
Is this Frank Wren’s answer to the power weakness for the Braves?
It can get worse. There are teams that have strong interest in scooping up Javier Vazquez’s contract from the Braves payroll. It’s the Angels; what are they going to offer — Breckenridge ski rentals? (hey, at least that would be entertaining. The Braves need to sign Vazquez to a long-term contract, and let him take a veteran leadership role for the pitching staff.
But back to the lack of a true power hitter.
Mike Cameron is gone.
Jason Bay’s name hasn’t been linked to the Braves in any trade rumor reports. Wren has made it pretty clear that there will not be a lot of money to throw at free agents.
Mitch Jones, though?
Really?
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