3 Key Additions for 2017 Atlanta Braves
By Ryan Cothran
Move #1: Ozzie Albies, your 2017 Atlanta Braves starting Second Baseman
If healthy enough to play every day and with a good showing during Spring Training, I really do think the Braves should be bold and give Albies the job as Opening Day 2nd Baseman. One simple move makes this team so much deeper, the lineup so interchangeable, and the defense so much stronger.
His offensive skill-set makes him an easy choice the Braves future leadoff hitter, but letting him adjust to big league pitching down in the lineup makes sense for the beginning of his career.
It just seems right that Dansby and Ozzie should be together in the bigs out the gate the first year at Suntrust Park.
Move #2: Sign Luis Valbuena (laugh it up, fuzzball!)
Yes, I know! Again! Dang right, again! I’m on the record saying that I’ll stop talking about Luis Valbuena when Luis Valbuena is no longer a free agent. He’d look extraordinary over at 3B against right-handed pitching and a beautiful bench piece when the Braves are squaring up against a left-handed starter.
Oh, and FanRagSports made my day when they predicted Valbuena to the Braves on a 1 year/7MM deal. Where does Coppy sign?
Move #3: Be Bold with A.J. Minter
A.J. Minter might be our answer to the dominant left-handed closers like Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. Sure, that’s bold, but dare to compare their Minor League numbers and you’ll see that Minter mows ’em down just as rapidly and efficiently.
The Braves were being cautious with Minter this year, not allowing him to pitch on consecutive days, but having him put up 50 innings on the big league team is no different than him doing it in the minors, as far as health goes.
Furthermore, with a Tommy-John surgery already in-tow, the clock could be ticking on his career.