Atlanta Braves Freddie Freeman returns; Yasiel Puig departs

The Atlanta Braves day started with good news about the two returns but ended with a loss.

The good news of the day was the return of Freddie Freeman and Touki Toussaint to the Atlanta Braves from the COVID-IL.  Both players missed two weeks of prep time, and we can’t be sure when they’ll be available, but the fact that they will be available has to lift morale in the clubhouse.

According to TMZ this morning, the Freeman family is unanimous in the belief that Freddie feels “Great!”  How that translates to the ballpark and playing every day is something only time will tell, but we know Freeman say he’s ready to play every day.

Touki will need time to stretch out, but he provides another spot start/bullpen option for a pitching staff that, as Alan wrote on Wednesday, is getting thinner by the day.

It seems like yesterday that I wrote about the potential addition of Yasiel Puig to the Atlanta Braves roster, but it wasn’t, it was two days ago. Today we learn that Puig tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, and the deal that never was won’t happen.

The most important thing to know is Puig is asymptomatic, says he feels great. However, his Atlanta deal is off and the Braves are once again searching for a (preferably left-hand hitting) bench bat.

What next for the roster?

In The Athletic this morning (subscription required), David O’Brien opined that Cristian Pache might get the nod if Puig didn’t pass the physical, but that’s not likely, at least until his ankle heals.  Even then, he’ll have to get back in game shape somehow, and that could take him 20-games deep in the short season ahead.

Later O’Brien revised the story to include the Puig news and suggested that the team’s focus was now on a lefty bench bat.  A glance at unsigned free agents on MLBTR shows only old friend Luca Duda, Jacoby Ellsbury, Scooter Gennett, Tim Beckham, and catchers Russell Martin and Jesus Sucre unsigned.

Atlanta Braves

Ellsbury hasn’t played in the majors since 2017, Beckham is a righty hitter, and neither catcher is better than players already in camp.

The Braves acquired Duda twice and didn’t seem impressed at the end of last season, but he is a lefty hitter who plays first base.

Gennett seems the best choice from that group if he can continue to hit righty pitching at a .298/.339/.474/.813 clip

The problem with those players — or anyone not in camp somewhere — is the same thing could happen to them as happened to Puig, making a trade the most probable path.

That begs the question, who’s willing to make a trade a week before the season starts when almost any team could make the playoffs?

That’s a wrap

I’m happy Freddie is back to stabilize the clubhouse, but I don’t expect him to play like he’s in mid-season form immediately.

The Puig news points out just how tough it is for a player outside of a Major League organization – any major league organization – to step in and fill a void immediately.

I’d suggest that Alex Anthopoulos is sounding-out organizations to see what’s available. I’m also sure they the price is higher now than it was last week.