Atlanta Braves and third base (again)
By Fred Owens
The Competition
The Braves competition is pretty easily identified. The Cardinals certainly need one of them – either one – and there’s a feeling that the Phillies have both the money and the will to join the bidding.
Both teams have farm systems capable to providing prospects, the Phillies have a boatload of money to spend and the Cardinals simply can’t allow the division to run away without trying making a move.
Both teams would try to sign the player after the year as well and along with the Braves could make a convincing case to either player.
Why trade?
No one expected the Atlanta Braves to challenge in 2018. They’ve arrived a year early and believe they can get to the post season, once in it’s a lottery where the hot team wins. If the bidding is going to be rugged, why trade?
In today’s mailbag, Mark Bowman dismissed the idea the Braves would make a trade.
"My suggestion is to erase any thoughts of the Braves acquiring. . . (any big name third baseman) before this year’s non-waiver Trade Deadline. . .I don’t see why they would do so . . when they might already possess their best long-term option in Riley whom an American League scout recently described as “maybe the best third-base prospect I’ve seen in more than 20 years"
I hear that but players look to the front office for a sign they too believe in the team. That sign comes in the form of a better roster. It’s true the Braves’ lineup needs more than one addition, but at least one is almost mandatory. Bowman suggests it will be a bullpen piece or a bench bat. I suggest that’s like giving your wife a gift card for her birthday; not a move that inspires.
Arguments exist that a veteran starter and/or a real closer as well as a third baseman and a RH bench bat fit. AA is going to do something and his discussion about money not being a roadblock to a trade indicates they’d make room for Donaldson.
That’s a Wrap
I can hear the clamor for the Atlanta Braves to call up Austin Riley all the way out here in Texas. Riley’s smoking AAA right now but there are at least two reasons to wait.
- His AAA dominance comes on the back of an unsustainable .405 BAbip and
- he strikes out 27.5% of the time against AAA pitchers.
Ronald Acuna struck out 19.8% of the time for Gwinnett in 2017 and features a 27.8% rate with Atlanta. Riley’s K rate would easily be well over 30%. That does neither the player or the team any good.
Next: The new man in charge. . . of second base
If he continues to improve Riley’s time in Atlanta will come. For now waiting is best for his growth and the team’s success.