The Atlanta Braves are in need of a catcher to pair up with Tyler Flowers in 2020. How will the player they sign impact other areas of need?
There are still some pressing needs for the Atlanta Braves this offseason, luckily, they also have budget space to work with.
The Atlanta Braves still have about $30-40 million in budget space to work with. They started the offseason with a bang by signing the top reliever on the market to solidify the bullpen.
There are still four major voids that need to be addressed, with the departures of Dallas Keuchel, Julio Teheran, Brian McCann, and Josh Donaldson.
To recap: We need at least one frontline starting pitcher, a third baseman/middle-order bat, and a catcher to share the load with Tyler Flowers.
Where Things Currently Stand
3B – The Braves have been named as a favorite to bring Josh Donaldson back in free agency. There is a hot market for the former MVP, with rumors linking the Nationals, Phillies and Rangers, among others, to being in the race for Donaldson’s services. Should the Braves fail to land Donaldson, they have also been linked to Mike Moustakas, and as a potential trade partner with the Cubs for Kris Bryant.
Finally, there are the in-house options of Austin Riley and Johan Camargo: both of whom have shown stretches of brilliance with a road leading to a bright future. On the flipside, both have shown extended stretches of play akin to the stench that accompanies a drive through a long stretch of highway in Kansas.*
*An interstate in Kansas is usually lined with cattle farms and rotting-deer carcasses. This causes the release of an aroma that permeates in the humidity until it becomes tangible. It is such a horrid odor it has been known to cause some people to achieve the supernatural feat of holding their breath for hundreds of miles.
Also Read: The benefits of Austin Riley as everyday third baseman in 2020.
SP – The Atlanta Braves are currently rolling three starters over from the end of last season, Mike Soroka, Max Fried, and Mike Foltynewicz. Sean Newcomb is going to be given an opportunity to stretch back out and vie for a rotation spot, as the Braves need one more lefty. Even with Newcomb, the Braves still need to sign a frontline pitcher to round out the rotation.
C – The Braves brought Tyler Flowers back at $4 million for one year. Flowers has been a solid contributor in a time-share since 2016. As a right-handed hitter, Flowers is usually on the short end of the split with whomever the other catcher is. The Braves won’t be looking for a long-term investment as they have some nice prospects in the farm system, notably last year’s first-round pick, Shea Langeliers.
Allocating the Funds
If the Braves spend $20-30 million between third and the rotation, they will need to once again find a great value at catcher to team with Flowers. They’ve done a fine job the past few years in utilizing two catchers to create one of the most productive tandems in the league, it appears they are heading that direction in 2020.
Let’s take a look at some of the catching options in free agency and the impact their potential contracts could have on how the Brave address third base and starting pitching.