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What can the 2017 Atlanta Braves learn from the 2016 Chicago Cubs?

By Ryan Cothran

Jun 12, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) pitches against Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester (34) pitches against Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Jace Peterson (8) forces out Chicago Cubs second baseman Starlin Castro (13) and throws to first base during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Jace Peterson (8) forces out Chicago Cubs second baseman Starlin Castro (13) and throws to first base during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Plan for Braves to Clone Cubs Depth

The Braves have many of the options already on the team but in my opinion they weren’t used in the roles that best suited them.

Going forward, I’d like for the Braves to solidify roles and become a Maddon-esque team where the bench provides frequent rest to the regulars, and most of the production provided from the bench isn’t a significant decrease from the regular lineup. I think this can be achieved fairly easily.

Here’s what I’d do:

  1. Ozzie Albies becomes full-time 2nd baseman and Jace Peterson moves to a super-utility role… once he’s healthy and ready to go, of course.
  2. Braves pursue free agent Luis Valbuena to platoon at 3rd base with Adonis Garcia.
  3. Mallex Smith becomes 4th OFer.
  4. Braves pursue free agent Ryan Raburn as bench bat.
  5. Braves trade for Brian McCann (if cost can be contained).

Jace and Adonis are both projected to become Braves regulars, but both are flawed in their own way.  Jace has struggled a bit defensively but the real struggle has been his inability to hit left-handed pitching. Albies does not have that struggle and should be a cog in the offensive lineup for many years.

Luis Valbuena is a great compliment to Adonis Garcia as he hits right-handed pitching very well. Shall I say more?

There’s not much more that I’d love to see than Mallex getting a chance to be a regular player. The problem is that he still makes the mistakes of an early Minor Leaguer and needs seasoning.

Making Smith the 4th OFer, pinch-running, spot-starting, and replacing Kemp defensively, likely gets him the exposure he needs to prove his full-time worth for the future.

Ryan Raburn is a left-handed masher and would be a great presence on the bench as he can play multiple positions and provides more of that flexibility that the Braves crave.

While it’s not a popular opinion on Twitter, I’m still a fan of Brian McCann being a Brave in 2017. I think his work ethic and ability to coach his own pitchers makes him invaluable to any team. He’d provide 2/3 of a potent catching duo.

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