Atlanta Braves: 5 free agents the Braves need to consider signing
The Atlanta Braves are going to have a lot of money coming off of the books for the 2019 season. How should they use it?
There have been varying estimates of how much money the Atlanta Braves will have to play with. MLB.com writer Mark Bowman suggests Atlanta will have around $60 million to spend while David O’Brien of The Athletic suggests Atlanta will have around $30 million. Either way, someone is coming to Atlanta and the big question is: Who?
With the play of Johan Camargo for the Atlanta Braves, many would suggest that Atlanta does not need to pursue a third baseman. And since the Braves have control over Adam Duvall, some might even say that there is no need for an additional outfielder despite Duvall’s poor 2018 performance.
Well, I say otherwise. Here is a look at my Top 5 free agent picks in no particular order for the Braves to target in the 2018-2019 offseason.
Manny Machado
The Braves were tied to Manny Machado for a while before the trade deadline in the 2018 season. Those rumors and ties will not go away once Machado becomes a free agent (in fact, oddsmakers are already making that connection).
The power that Machado provides is something that the Atlanta Braves offense could heavily benefit from. Having Manny Machado, Freddie Freeman, and Ronald Acuña provides power all over the field and the lineup.
There have been several statements made that imply Manny Machado will only play shortstop wherever he signs. He’s been a primary third baseman for his entire 7 year career and has won 2 gold gloves at third base.
The 26 year old power infielder has made his statement: he can play shortstop. But, the defensive metrics are a bit worrisome when looking at Machado’s defensive ability there.
Machado has negative defensive runs saved (DRS) at shortstop in 2018. Not only is it negative, but Machado has -13 DRS at shortstop for 2018. Many teams will be willing to pay big money for someone who can hit 30 HR’s and 100 RBI’s on a yearly basis, but the defensive liability at a position as important as shortstop is something that might make some teams think twice about signing him as a shortstop as opposed to a third baseman.
The argument FOR the Atlanta Braves signing Machado is just as strong as the argument AGAINST signing Machado.
Johan Camargo has emerged as someone who is much more than a utility player. He is an everyday third baseman capable of 3+ WAR with great defense, power, and a very bright future. Camargo has been one of the many surprises for the Braves in 2018, and Camargo earned a starting spot for 2019.
Signing Machado would likely force Camargo out of his starting 3B position, and starting Camargo is a must in my book. Camargo can play all over the field, and he even has some experience in the outfield. Camargo could transition to the outfield if Atlanta decides to sign Machado, or he could be used as a valuable piece in a trade during the offseason (which would break my heart).
Ultimately, I think the Atlanta Braves are going to let Machado go somewhere else, and allow Camargo develop into the best player he can be over the next few years.
Bryce Harper
Whoa. Could the Braves really sign the star of their National League East foe, the Washington Nationals?
Nothing is out of the realm of possibilities. In the history of baseball, there have been times where a star player signed with the rival of their former team. In recent memory, Jacoby Ellsbury, Wade Boggs, and Jonny Damon are all players who signed with their rivals: they were all on the Red Sox and later signed with the Yankees.
Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper have a playful friendship with each other while being stars for their respective rivals, but this could be one of the biggest rival signings of them all. There was talk after the season ended that said Freeman has been campaigning for Harper to sign with the Braves during free agency.
Freeman and Harper being on the same team would benefit both Freeman and Harper as players, not to mention the impact Harper could have on the lineup with his huge power and great OBP numbers.
Harper would give the Atlanta Braves yet another dynamic outfielder with a big bat, which could make the Atlanta outfield one of the top outfields in the National League with Acuña, Inciarte, AND Harper.
Yasmani Grandal
Since the Braves extended Tyler Flowers for the 2019 season and have done nothing to extend Kurt Suzuki, the Braves will be searching for an additional backstop.
Grandal provides big pop with the bat and has a better arm than Flowers. Grandal can throw runners out and hit for power which is something Atlanta needs, and actually ranked higher than Flowers for 2018 catcher framing statistics.
I think that the Braves are going to push hard to trade for J.T. Realmuto in the offseason due to his defensive capabilities coupled with his offensive production. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos values defense greatly, and Realmuto will be the most attractive catcher trade option available during the offseason.
However, if the Braves don’t land Realmuto from Miami, they will likely resort to Grandal in free agency.
Craig Kimbrel
Atlanta’s bullpen has been a huge gray area for the past few years. José Ramírez (the reliever, not the Indians 3B) and Sam Freeman in 2017 seemed like they would be solid relievers for the 2018 season. However, they both fell off in 2018 which hurt the Atlanta bullpen tremendously.
A.J. Minter, Dan Winker, Jessie Biddle, and Shane Carle carried the Braves bullpen with their early performance during the first half of the 2018 season. The late trade additions of Jonny Venters and Brad Brach as well as minor league additions in the forms of Touki Toussiant, Chad Sobotka, and Max Fried helped the bullpen even more after the trade deadline. The player that has widely been considered the closer is Arodys Vizcaíno, and since he was injured most of 2018, Atlanta didn’t have a reliable closer even though now Vizcaíno has returned and is healthy.
The biggest question mark in the bullpen for the Braves is at the closer position, and Kimbrel could reunite with his former team to help carry the bullpen and the Braves deep into the 2019 postseason. The only issue with a signing like this would be the price, and Atlanta might want to hold onto their money and spend it elsewhere.
Nathan Eovaldi
The Atlanta Braves may try to add some pitching depth, and Eovaldi is going to be one name that many teams will likely throw some money at.
Eovaldi is no Clayton Kershaw, who is someone else that could be a free agent this off season, but Eovaldi has developed into a good pitcher. Eovaldi has found himself after recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2017.
2018 has not only been a huge year for Eovaldi, it had a been a huge turning point in his career as well. This season has been easily the most successful season for Eovaldi as during the regular season, he he pitched to a 3.81 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 1.126 WHIP, 101 strikeouts and ONLY 20 walks through 22 games. The reason he only pitched 22 games as compared to the typical 30-starts-per-year standard for starting pitchers was because his recovery lasted until after the regular season started. Eovaldi made his first start of 2018 on May 20th, and that low walk count is something that Braves fans would love to have.
Eovaldi never had postseason experience before 2018. Now, Eovaldi has pitched in 6 postseason games with the Red Sox. Eovoldi made 3 starts and 3 relief appearances in the postseason tossing 22.1 innings, 1.61 ERA, 0.806 WHIP, 15 H, 4 ER, 3 BB’s and 15 K’s. Having this postseason success is going to make teams like Atlanta who are looking for successful pitchers take a deeper look into the possibility of signing Eovaldi this offseason.
Eovaldi’s big change this year was the use of a cutter. He added the cutter to his repertoire in 2016, but used it at a scarce 7.6% of his pitches. Now, his cutter accounts for 32.3% of his pitches averaging 92.7mph coupled with his fastball that averages just over 97mph. On top of those pitches, he utilizes a splitter and slider for his off-speed pitches with the occasional curveball.
Long story short, Eovaldi has proven that Tommy John has done nothing but make him a better pitcher, and Atlanta might want him to continue that story in a Braves uniform.
Next. Atlanta Braves: My week as Braves GM. dark
Obviously these are not the only players that could land with the Braves in the offseason. There are many other players worthy of signing. For example: another touted starting pitcher by the name of Patrick Corbin could come on over to Atlanta. Who else would you like to see targeted this offseason? Comment below!