
Atlanta Braves — Around the Infield
Catcher: Travis d’Arnaud
Easy answer here, but Travis d’Arnaud signed a 2 year $16 million deal before this season so he will be on the roster in 2021 barring a strange turn of events. When healthy, he provides solid offensive value at a position that isn’t the deepest across Major League Baseball.
First Base: Freddie Freeman
Do we really see anyone else lining up at first for the Braves anytime soon? Freeman’s contract is nearing the end of its deal but he’s still signed through 2021 and I would imagine Freddie gets an extension to stay with the Braves past 2021.
Second Base: Ozzie Albies
The third straight easy answer here. Unless something strange happens, Ozzie Albies will be the Braves’ second baseman for many years to come.
Third Base: Kyle Seager
Time for some fun. The Braves trade Austin Riley and Ender Inciarte to the Seattle Mariners for Kyle Seager during the offseason.
Ender would come off the books in 2021 for the rebuilding Mariners and could serve as a stop-gap if top prospects Jarred Kelenic or Julio Rodriguez need more time in the minors. Austin Riley is a former top prospect that has currently struggled at the major league level.
Seager gives the Braves a veteran at the hot corner for two seasons (Seager’s option becomes a player option in 2022 if traded). He will be 33 at the start of the 2021 season but has shown when healthy that he can be valuable with the bat.
Shortstop: Dansby Swanson
A young, hometown kid with two years of service time remaining? Unless Dansby falls apart in the back half of 2020, he will be that Braves starting shortstop come 2021.