Atlanta Braves mailbag: Rule changes, Taijuan Walker, and Brock Holt

Will the Atlanta Braves add depth?

Over the past few weeks, the Atlanta Braves began adding the depth needed during a long season. This week first baseman Yonder Alonso signed a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. He joined infielder/utility-players Charlie Culberson, Yangervis Solarte, Pete Kozma, and outfielders Peter O’Brien and Shane Robinson, as experienced position player depth.

Even with all of those adds – not very impressive I know but adds nonetheless – Shayne Pickering (@SPickering0808) wants to know if the Braves might add Ben Zobrist, Brock Holt, or Taijuan Walker.

Zobrist almost certainly won’t play this year. He missed most of last season taking care of family issues that outweigh playing baseball. In November, Zobrist told Patrick Mooney he didn’t know if he’d play; since that time, I haven’t heard his name, which makes retirement seem the answer.

I’m surprised Holt doesn’t have a job yet. The 31-year old utility player’s never hot for power, but always carried a high OBP, an average around .280, and played multiple infield and outfield positions with hurting his team defensively.

At this late date, I suspect a team could sign him inexpensively and make their bench stronger, but I don’t believe that team will be the Atlanta Braves as Hechavarria, Culberson, Solarte, and Kozma, have similar skill-sets.

Taijuan a Walker on?

I like the idea of giving Walker the same shot the Braves gave Felix Hernandez. A first-round pick by Seattle in 2010, Walker never fell below 20 on any MLB prospect list from 2012 through 2014. After a promising cup of coffee at 20-years old in 2013, he spent most of 2014 in AAA, appearing in only eight games for the Mariners.

Like many players in Seattle, Walker never seemed to break out, but considering his league and division, he pitched well. From 2014 through 2016, made 82 starts, threw 461 1/3 innings, struck out 422, walked 138, and pitched to a 4.10 ERA, 4.33 FIP, and 102 ERA+.

Following the 2016 season, the Mariners sent Walker to Arizona. He liked the desert air, making 28 starts for the Snakes, throwing 157 1/3 innings, allowed 481 hits, struck out 146, walked 61 while pitching to a 3.49 ERA, 135 ERA+, and 4.04 FIP.

In his third game of the 2018 campaign, Walker left with an elbow injury that eventually required TJ surgery and threw just one inning last year. Rather than pay him $7M in arbitration, the Diamondbacks non-tendered him in November.

At his Best Walker’s a 48% groundball pitcher and two years removed from surgery, he should be back to full strength; unfortunately, it doesn’t appear he is. 

At his showcase for scouts this week, his fastball sat between 85-88, five to nine notches down from his pre-surgery average. I’d still offer him a minor league deal, but unless his velocity returns, nothing more.