House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves New Year’s Mailbag: Is Josh Donaldson enough

By Fred Owens

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 13: Gloves and balls are seen on the field before the Chicago Cubs take on the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field on April 13, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Braves defeated the Cubs 4-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 13: Gloves and balls are seen on the field before the Chicago Cubs take on the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field on April 13, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Braves defeated the Cubs 4-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
atlanta braves
Cole Hamels signing by the Atlanta Braves gave the rotation a respected veteran lefty. A third left in the rotation might make it too left-handed.(Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Is number five on board?

After signing Cole Hamels, the Atlanta Braves have one rotation spot up for grabs. Steve wants to know who the fills the fifth starter spot

The Braves told Sean Newcomb they’d give him a chance to earn a rotation spot during Spring Training. After the Hamels signing and knowing Max Fried has an edge for a starting role, I see that as a long shot at best, as it would make the rotation heavily left-handed.

I’ve felt and said that, in a perfect situation, I believe the Atlanta Braves would love to add a veteran right-handed starter. This morning on MLB Network’s Hot Stove, Kevin McAlpin from 680 The Fan, said the same thing. Whether they add that pitcher now or at the deadline depends, more than anything else, on the market for the caliber pitcher they want, and the prospect cost

If Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos doesn’t see good value in a deal, the Braves will start the season with one of Newcomb, Kyle Wright, or Bryce Wilson as the fifth starter and hope one of them grabs the job and won’t let go

Atlanta Braves drafter’s remorse?

Redbug asked in comments, if the Atlanta Braves had any interest in Christin Stewart before the 2015 draft and whether the team might consider trading for him now. The answer on both counts is no.

I didn’t recall any buzz around Stewart in 2015, and a look back at projections confirmed that as his name didn’t surface in connections with the Braves in anything I saw or wrote at the time.

Stewart had a cup of coffee and looked in at the end of the 2018 season, but batted 233/.305/.388/.693 in 2019. He’s just 25 and inexpensive, so the rebuilding Tigers kept him on their 40-man roster.

My pre-draft post had these luminaries on the Atlanta Braves radar.

  • Tyler Stephenson (GA – best catcher in the draft, Reds @ #11, still in AA),
  • Cornelius Randolph (GA – Phillies @ #10, he’s still in AA and still can’t hit),
  • Daz Cameron (Ga – Astros at #37, now a Tiger, in AAA and not hitting),
  • Phil Bickford (Giants @ #18 now with Brewers in A+),
  • Tyler Jay (Twins @ #6 currently in AA with Reds),
  • Cody Ponce (Brewers @ #55 – round 2 –player part of this year in AAA),
  • Garrett Whitley (Rays @ #13 had TJ in 2018 played some in A+ this year),
  • Andrew Benintendi (Red Sox @ #7, starting LF in Boston
  • Walker Buehler (Dodgers @ #24 their best starter now)
  • Ian Happ (Cubs @ #9 hits well but has K issues, need a change of scenery)

Those were the rumors a week before draft day 2015.  I said Kolby Allard and was correct, but it didn’t work out well, or Kyle Funkhouser (taken by LA @ #35 but DNS, taken in 2016 by the Tigers).  I still wonder how Buehler fell to LA without John Coppolella grabbing him.

Home/Braves News