House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves outside the box thinking for a Braves new third baseman

By Fred Owens

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: A detailed view of a base during batting practice prior to Game Two of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: A detailed view of a base during batting practice prior to Game Two of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
Could the Atlanta Braves sign Didi Gregorius to play third base? (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Twiddling a Didi

For the past five seasons, Didi Gregorius manned the shortstop slot vacated by Derek Jeter. It isn’t easy following a legend, but Gregorius did it with style and a smile.

He struggled at the plate in 2015, but over the next three seasons, he batted .277/.319/.472/.791, averaged 24 homers a year and posted fWARs of 2.7, 4.1, and 4.7. Following the 2018 season, he had TJ surgery and returned in June – way too early judging by his .238/.276/.441/.718 line.

Related Story. Or maybe a trade. light

Gregorius’s bat will return this year.  He’s hit well over the three previous seasons, and there’s no reason to doubt he’ll hit well this year.  Didi’s arm is sound after the surgery, but his range scores at shortstop went down every season since 2016.  At third-base, his range won’t be an issue, and his 24 homer bat plays well.

With Gregorius at third and Dansby Swanson at short, the Braves infield defense would remain among the best, and he wouldn’t be an offensive liability either..

Convincing Gregorius to move might not be as hard as you might expect. He wants to win again, and the Atlanta Braves are poised to do that. However, he is a left-handed hitter, making the need to a right-handed hitting power bat like Trey Mancini or Starling Marte, a higher priority.

 

Do you know a way to get Jose?

In recent weeks we’ve seen quite a few fans suggest the Atlanta Braves trade for Francisco Lindor.  Lindor’s name pops up because he’s arguably the best all-around shortstop in the majors today.

However, in any deal for their shortstop, the Indians would ask for the Braves shortstop in return. Adding Lindor doesn’t fill the empty spot at third base, and adds $13.4M to the payroll as well as subtracting at least two top 20 prospects and another lower-level prospect, along with Swanson.

So I’ll pass on Lindor, but let’s keep the Indians on the phone to talk about Jose Ramirez.

The Indians signed Ramirez in 2911, and he made his Major league debut just two years later. Initially, his career resembled that of former Atlanta Braves utility man Martin Prado. The Indians didn’t have an everyday position for him, but in 2016 they wanted his bat in the lineup every day.

That season he played 184 games in left-field, but by the end of the year, he called third base home, batting .312/.363/.462/.825, with a .355 wOBA, 119 wRC+, posted a 4.7 fWAR and finished #17 in MVP voting.

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