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Atlanta Braves: if it isn’t Josh Donaldson in 2020, then who plays third base?

By Alan Carpenter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Third baseman Josh Donaldson #20 of the Atlanta Braves runs after hitting a 2-run home run in the seventh inning during the game against the Washington Nationals at SunTrust Park on September 06, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Third baseman Josh Donaldson #20 of the Atlanta Braves runs after hitting a 2-run home run in the seventh inning during the game against the Washington Nationals at SunTrust Park on September 06, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 22: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs fields the ball in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on August 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 22: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs fields the ball in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on August 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Trade Opportunities?

By that WAR value stat, here are the best third basemen in the past 3 seasons:

  • Rendon – discussed above
  • Alex Bregman – not available
  • Jose Ramirez – signed dirt cheap through at least 2021.  Not available.
  • Matt Chapman – not even arbitration eligible yet.  Not available.
  • Kris Bryant – see below
  • Justin Turner – already (nearly) 35; signed through 2020
  • Eugenio Suarez – signed through 2024
  • Machado – signed for life
  • Matt Carpenter – signed through 2021 (vesting); will be 34 next year and tanked offensively and defensively in 2019.
  • Eduardo Escobar – the time to get him was last year; signed through 2021
  • Yoan Moncada – not available
  • Kyle Seager – signed for too long and too much; even Jerry DiPoto will have trouble moving him.
  • Rafael Devers – not available
  • Moustakas – discussed above
  • Brian Anderson – Almost certainly not available

When you narrow the picking to the two most recent seasons, you add David Flecher or the Angels who had a very nice 2019… but can he sustain it and also be received in trade?  Both questions are unknown.

About Bryant

Well, that pretty much the list of third baseman who might be desirable via trade… and only Kris Bryant represents a player who might be of interest via trade.

MLB Trade Rumors estimates that Bryant will command $18.5 million via arbitration this next season.  He has 2 years of team control remaining and there’s no shot that he (as a Scott Boras client) will be looking for an extension deal.

Add in the Cubs’ budget issues and there’s a fair chance that they might at least listen to offers for their third baseman… and some have suggested that this has happened.

The Braves would have to be careful here, of course:  2 years of Bryant would be good – not great – since his defense isn’t top-shelf, but would have to be weighed against the top prospect names that undoubtedly will be required to pry him loose.

The timing (until Riley is fully ready) would not be terrible and the dollars would be bounded within reason, so those aspects would fit for Atlanta, but it would be the trade itself that might cause fits… and maybe more fits in Chicago.

Beyond that, Atlanta would have to be looking for some sort of reclamation project, like Miguel Sano or Jeimer Candelario or some sort of extra/leftover player to use as a stop-gap solution…

...which means you may as well try Johan Camargo and/or Riley, for the risk would be less by trying the in-house options you’re already familiar with.

Next. Lots of issues to complain about. dark

So when we talk about ‘having an interest’ in Josh Donaldson re-signing with Atlanta, there’s a reason.  It’s simply because he can’t be replaced.  It’s probably him or Camargo or Riley.

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