Clearing space
The Atlanta Braves have three miles of pitching depth, and three feet of position player depth below the Major League level. Not counting catchers Contreras and Alex Jackson, position player depth consists of Riley and Cristian Pache; that’s not enough and the reason the Braves have all of these lightning-in-a bottle candidates in camp. If they decide to add someone, who gets outrighted?
Grant Dayton seems the first pitcher to go. Dayton’s had a horrid spring, throwing 5 1/3 innings in five games, giving up 8 runs, and walking one batter for every strikeout. In 2019 at Gwinnett, right-handed hitters batted .240/.283/.490/.773 and hit eight homers in 100 AB.
On the bright side, he struck out 38 and only walked four. Dayton’s problem is Braves’ pitching depth is younger and better.
The Braves have Contreras and Langeliers coming, and Jackson isn’t in their class defensively, he’s the most logical position-player to leave the 40-man roster. He has power but hasn’t hit for average and never mastered the outfield when Seattle pushed him out there.
The best answer is a trade, but those don’t happen a lot in spring training, though I’m relatively sure the Astros would make a deal for a starter, and we have pitchers who aren’t going to break into the rotation for Atlanta that fit their needs, Hernandez for one. I’m not sure who they’d trade that would help.
That’s a wrap
The team wants a player who plays multiple positions and won’t hurt you too badly while doing it. None of the options in camp – Culberson, Yangervis Solarte, or Pete Kozma – are exciting, that’s why everyone points to Culberson; everyone likes Charlie, and he’s a Georgia guy.
The best option is the one the Atlanta Braves keep saying they won’t use; start the year with Riley at third and try to give Camargo three games a week somewhere. If he continues to hit, Riley’s bat provides the thunder we need. Ozuna isn’t enough, and he’s yet to find his stroke. If he doesn’t, the lineup is really in a jam.
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