Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Gant, Frenchy for the Team?
Francoeur seems better fit for Braves than Bonifacio
Signing Emilio Bonifacio in December was a bit of a head-scratching move by the Braves, considering he wasn’t good the first time they had him in 2014 and was far worse during 2015 with the White Sox.
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If there wasn’t an obvious need for the (very) light-hitting utility man then, there’s even less now after the Braves have seen him this spring and don’t seem at all impressed.
Braves manger Fredi Gonzalez has even started veteran right fielder Jeff Francoeur in center field once this week and plans to try him out there a couple more times. The reasoning: He’d give the Braves a right-handed hitting backup right fielder/pinch-hitter who could play some center along with lefty hitter Michael Bourn.
Ender Inciarte is the primary center fielder to start the season, but Inciarte can play all three positions at a high level and will get some starts in left field when Gonzalez wants to rest Hector Olivera.
The Braves have a glut of veteran outfielders, but three’s a possibility, maybe more like a probability, they’ll get rid of Nick Swisher one way or another – trade him if they can find a taker to pick up any portion of his $15 million salary, or just bite the bullet and release him if they have to. They just don’t need him on their 25-man roster.
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As for Bonifacio, 30, if he were still a good infielder, it’d be one thing. But he’s not. He’s not good enough defensively to warrant playing time ahead of the Braves’ other backup or platoon infielders at any position, particularly given his lack of offense.
Ed. Note: Frenchy is also a right-handed hitter OF, and one who’s best recent season came while under the tutelage of Kevin Seitzer. Given the fact that Ender Inciarte is a LHH who doesn’t hit left-handed pitching particularly well, that could provide all of the needed incentive for the Braves to put Francoeur on the Opening Day roster.
The next question becomes this: who doesn’t make the club? Let’s do a quick head-count…
- Infield locks: Freeman, Peterson, Aybar, Pierzynski, Flowers (5)
- Yes, I left out Adonis Garcia for right now
- Outfield locks: Olivera, Inciarte, Markakis (3)
- Somehow, I expect that the Braves will carry 13 pitchers to start the year (13)
That leaves 4 roster spots and 8 players to decide between: [UPDATED: 12:30EDT]
- Bonifacio? Sounds like he’s out of the equation.
- Bourn? Probably in, as he’s still got a couple of things (speed, defense) going for him. (1)
- Beckham? Jury is still out.
- Swisher? Most likely out period.
- Francoeur? Sounds like the Braves are trying to justify keeping him. (2)
- Brignac? (h/t @BravesOptions for the reminder) Been playing over his head, but like a guy who really wants to make a team.
- Kelly Johnson? Curious that there’s been very little chatter about him, but versatility wins (3)
- Garcia? Most probably still sticks… but I left him out from the list above specifically because he still has options.
So all of that could mean that it’s down to Gordon Beckham , Reid Brignac, or Adonis Garcia… and if ‘versatility’ is indeed a factor, then Garcia could come up short. Brignac and Beckham have been playing at a lot of different positions, while Garcia has received the most innings at third base.
One more thought: I keep harping on that word “versatile” because John Coppolella could strike at any time, leaving Fredi Gonzalez with a lesser hand of cards to work with. But when players can at least handle 2-4 different positions, that impact is lessened… and there seems to have been a much bigger emphasis on multi-position capabilities than in years past.
Next: Braves Add Another Pitcher... Kinda
Two weeks to go…