The Atlanta Braves improved their bench with the Lamb signing, but there’s more in this move than a bench piece.
What to expect from Jake
Lamb is not a washed-up veteran; he plays this year at 30-years-old. When healthy, Lamb is a 30-homer, left-handed bat who hits well in the cleanup slot. He’s going to strike out 150 times a year and bat something like .250/.330/.480 if he plays every day… and that’s a genuine possibility.
This signing should put Austin Riley on notice: if he can’t hit .250 and produce the home runs that are his calling card, and Lamb can, Lamb will start at third base. No one will say that on the record, but it really is that simple.
Defensively, the metrics don’t care much for Lamb, but they have equal disdain for Eugenio Suarez, Justin Turner, and Kris Bryant. If he hits, Lamb plays the position well enough to earn an everyday job.
If Austin Riley hits that well, he’ll get the full-time job, and Lamb will give him a day off, play a little first base, and give Ozuna a day off with Riley sliding to left-field now and then.
To make room for Lamb, the Atlanta Braves outrighted Travis Demeritte off the 40-man roster to Gwinnett. He’ll have to clear waivers, but I expect he will.
That’s a wrap
Lamb joins the Atlanta Braves bench along with the catcher who has the best spring training – Alex Jackson or William Contreras – Johan Camargo, Ender Inciarte, and Jason Kipnis. If the Braves decide to have a fifth everyday player, I’d expect Pablo Sandoval to get the nod. It makes a ton of sense to have 14 pitchers after the starters threw so few innings last year,
However, it shakes out, the Atlanta braves bench looks better today than yesterday. Should a miracle occur and a last-minute DH deal happens – I’m not holding my breath – the lineup won’t suffer as much.
Get your Lamb-chop and Silence by the Lamb hashtags ready; the season starts in 38 days.