Atlanta Braves outfielder
Eury Perez(8). Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Backup search still on as Braves option E. Perez
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Braves are still looking both internally and externally for a backup outfielder who can handle the center-field position. But Eury Perez is no longer in that mix.
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Editor’s notes:
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We talked about this topic at length yesterday, but this quote from Mark Bowman represents the first time – outside these pages –
that we’ve heard the possibility that the Braves might look to trade for an outfielder
.
Trouble is, this suggests that they’re looking at the wrong position.
As mentioned yesterday, I do not believe that the Braves need anything more than a temporary backup center fielder. Whenever Melvin/B.J. Upton is healthy again, that position is set – and it doesn’t matter who gets the most innings: it’s Young and/or Upton.
Thus either Philip Gosselin (who did not embarrass himself in a CF experiment yesterday) or Todd Cunningham are sufficient for the next 1-2 months.
The problem is in Left Field. That is, unless you’re intending to play Kelly Johnson out there as Jonny Gomes platoon sidekick instead of Zoilo Almonte. But as of this morning:
- Jonny Gomes (RHH): .213
- Zoilo Almonte (SWH): .222
- Kelly Johnson (LHH): .262 (.354 OBP)
- Joey Terdoslavich (SWH): .278 (much of that vs. AA/AAA pitching)
If you want to fill a hole from the outside, this is the hole to fill. At least until we turn our attention to…