Upgrading the Atlanta Braves Left Field: 3 Methods, 7 Options

Atlanta Braves center fielder Cameron Maybin (25) calls for time after a stolen base against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Stand and Deliver

It was a couple of weeks ago that we looked at what could happen if Player “X” were traded.  So far, my forecasts are pretty much “0 for 2”:

• Kelly Johnson departs, team opts to retain a lighter bat and option Joey Terdoslavich to AAA.
• Juan Uribe departs and Pedro Ciriaco isn’t the choice:  Adonis Garcia is.  But don’t think he’s a ‘big bat’: counting AAA, that was his 4th homer of the season; he was slugging a scant .369 at Gwinnett.

But there is another internal option that the Braves could give a trial run with in September, which would help the decision-making process this off-season:

It’s the Mallex & Maybin plan.  With these two guys, you almost wouldn’t need a right fielder.

Early this month, there was a lot of noise about teams asking the Braves for Cameron Maybin.  Since that time, those rumblings have died down completely.

Part of the reason for this is that there’s not a lot of need for center fielders among the obvious contenders.  The other reason is that the Braves would probably just as soon hang on to him.  After all, they stole him fair and square from the Padres in what is certainly not the only off-season deal that San Diego would like to revisit.

This option would move Maybin to Left Field and bring up Mallex Smith to play Center Field for the foreseeable future.

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Rationale:  Maybin’s contract is attractive and he’s bought in to the Braves’ offensive scheme from Day 1.  All other options for the position would cost more.

There is a risk to this plan, though, and it’s not Maybin:  after destroying AA pitching (.340) Mallex Smith has been having a tough time at the AAA level with a .221 average.

Put simply, the International League pitchers aren’t working around him:  his walk rate has dived from 11.3% to 5.7% and OBP has likewise cratered:  .418 to .264.  Some of this could be bad luck:  .263 BABIP vs. .412, but this tells me that he’s struggling to react to much better pitching.

Nonetheless, if this is the plan for Atlanta, it would be a good idea to get Smith several reps in the majors before handing him the reins for good next week.

Next: The Agents Who Are Anything But Free