House That Hank Built
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Should Braves pick up options for Tyler Flowers and Nick Markakis?

By Jake Mastroianni

SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 4: Tyler Flowers #25 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Nick Markakis #22 after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on June 4, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 4: Tyler Flowers #25 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Nick Markakis #22 after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on June 4, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 11: Tyler  Flowers #25 of the Atlanta Braves hits a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 11: Tyler  Flowers #25 of the Atlanta Braves hits a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

What to do with Flow?

I hate to keep banging the drum, but if you read any of my articles on here you know I’m not the biggest fan of Tyler Flowers.

For years now he’s disgusted me with his dropped balls behind the plate.

I get that the metrics say he’s a great pitch-framer, but my eyes tell me something different.

He led all of baseball in passed balls in 2019, and he really doesn’t do a great job of calling a game or throwing out runners.

And he’s hit under .230 for two straight seasons now, so he brings very little offensively.

Somehow FanGraphs rates him with a positive defensive WAR of 19 in 2019, which ranks sixth-best among catchers who caught at least 80 innings.

Again, I understand everyone loves metrics, but I watch every game and trust my eyes enough to know Flowers is not a good defensive catcher.

Having said all of that, and with how much disdain I have for Flowers, the Braves have to pick up his $6 million option for 2020.

With Brian McCann retiring, they can’t go into the offseason without an experience Major League catcher on the roster.

And $6 million is a pretty decent price for a back-up catcher.

I still think the Braves should go out and look for a primary catcher — either through trade or free agency. Because I think Flowers is strictly a back-up at this point.

Also, I think Alex Jackson is a back-up in the bigs and is not ready for full-time duty.

That’s why the Braves are pretty much forced to pick up the contract for Flowers, even if they still have to go out and find another catcher.

I would be shocked — and a little thrilled — if they didn’t pick it up though because that means they would be forced to go out and find a primary catcher this offseason.

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