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Atlanta Braves looking for additional reinforcements at the deadline

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies must find his stroke if the team's is going to win the East in 2021. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies must find his stroke if the team's is going to win the East in 2021. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Utility man Wilmer Flores might fill the Atlanta Braves need at second base. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The Giants own two of three candidates that fit the Atlanta Braves needs, and unless they believe in miracles will trade one or both of them without expecting a huge return.

Former Met Wilmer Flores seems to find a new home every year and play well. After leaving the Mets in 2018, he batted .317/.361/.487/.828 with a 118 OPS plus and nine homers for the Diamondbacks last season.

He joined the Giants this year and continued to hit well. He’s currently batting .280/.312/.517/.829 with eight homers in 125 PA.

Flores hits pitchers from both sides well. Since the start of last year, he’s batted .326/.360/.645/1.005, hitting12 homers against lefties; and .296/.338/.409/.748 with five homers facing same-sided pitchers.

He’s never struck out more than 15% of the time – he’s at 15.2% this year (19 in118 PA) – but only walks about 4.5% of the time.  As usual, he’s played some first and third this season; and like most super-utility players, he’s about league average defensively in most positions, including second base.

At 31-years old, Flores is a seven-year veteran with postseason experience and probably the best of the two utility men they have.

Late bloomer

Solano took eight years – five Major League seasons – to become 2019’s overnight success. after five seams with the Marlins and Yankees, he spent 2017 and 2018 in the minors. The Giants called him up in May last year after injuries ravaged their aging roster. Suddenly, Solano could hit.

Splitting time between second base, shortstop, and third base, Solano batted .330/.360/.456/.815 with four homers in 228 PA.

Players similar to Solano often have these one-year explosions, then fade away. However, Solano has continued to hit well this year, batting .336/.374/.486/.860 with a pair of homers in 115 PA.

His career numbers show a slight reverse split but since coming to the majors in 2019, he’s batting .329/.371/.443/.814 against LHP and .335/359/486/.844 against RHP, although he strikes out more against RHP.

The 32-year-old RHH strikes out slightly more than Flores, but not enough to be a deciding factor. He walks at roughly the same clip as well.

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