Atlanta Braves looking to balance lineup: add a left-handed bat
Atlanta Braves GM gave an interview to XM Radio’s Front Office last Friday and indicated he’d like to add a left-handed bat.
The Atlanta Braves GM spoke to Jim Bowdon and Jim Duquette on the Friday, June 17th, show (if you subscribe to Sirius-XM, search for Alex Anthopoulos: his comments begin at the 1:55 point on the countdown timer).
Bowden began by praising the Braves’ depth and acknowledging that it’s too early to know what the team will need at the deadline. He followed that in true Bowden style by asking what the team might want at the deadline.
Anthopoulos responded by reminding Bowden that the Braves hope to have Mike Soroka, Kirby Yates, Eddie Rosario, and Ozzie Albies back around that time. Bowden agreed with Anthopoulos that, without having to make a move, those were better deadline acquisitions than most teams will get this year.
Anthopoulos said that he felt the lineup was a little righthanded, making a lefthanded bat the most obvious choice. He emphasized that he wouldn’t acquire a player just because he’s a lefthanded hitter.
On this week’s episode of Off Leo’s Rocker, Alan and I discussed candidates that matched than criteria. Unfortunately, not every fan listens to us, so I’ll go over the names that came up during our chat.
An Atlanta Braves type player
Based on his history since taking over, Anthopoulos will look for players whose metrics say add value and are known as positive additions to the clubhouse.
Presumably, he’s once again looking for an outfielder because there’s a no vacancy sign everywhere else. So, a left-handed hitting outfielder — perhaps one with experience at first base to give Olson a day off -– who brings defense and a useful bat. Players who meet those requirements are few, and those that do may not hit the market.
Back to Baltimore
I have two switch-hitters as potential targets for the Atlanta Braves; the first is Orioles’ right fielder Anthony Santander.
Santander is a 27-year-old switch-hitter, having a season that resembles his 2019 and 2021 campaigns, batting .246/.345/.433/.778, with 12 homers, an 11.1% walk rate and a 20.3% K-rate,
Sabermetrically, he’s posted 124 wRC+, a .343 wOBA, and 0.7 fWAR in 261 PA.
The only issue is his L/R splits, which show more power and significantly fewer Ks from the right side.
He has one minor-league option remaining, earns $3.15M this season, and is under team control through 2024
Would the Os trade him?
Santander hits free agency at 29 years old after the 2024 season. The Orioles may challenge in 2025, but 2026 is a more likely date, and they could ask for a nice return to plus up their farm system at the deadline.
He’s not expensive this year, and the Orioles are more entertaining than in years past. Keeping a player they took from the Indians in the 2016 Rule 5 draft and grew into an everyday player is a sign of that success they may decide to keep.
Proposed Deal:
There was a time when trading Drew Waters for Santander was a non-starter. Today Waters’ star’s slipped, and alone he isn’t enough. You’ll see Waters in most of these trades. Adding Ynoa isn’t a big loss for the Braves as he’s slipped out of the mix for the rotation and needs a new start elsewhere.
Likelihood Santander is traded: 50%.
Atlanta Braves get Happ-y
The not-so-subtle headline teases my second switch hitter of the group, Cubs outfielder Ian Happ.
Like Santander, Happ is 27-years-old and, as the Braves found out over the weekend, having a strong season for Chicago. He’s currently batting .290/.389/.466/.855 with seven homers, a 13.7% walk rate, and a 19.8% K-rate.
Sabermetrically, he’s posted a .369 wOBA, 138 wRC+, and already has 2.1 fWAR in 262 PA this season.
Happ primary played left field for the Cubs but also filled in at center, right and second base. Unlike Santander, there’s no platoon question mark about Happ; he hits well, and with power, from both sides of the plate. His lefthanded numbers look higher, but he’s had fewer PA from that side.
The big change for Happ this year is his improved zone contact rate and a continuing decrease in WHIFF rate. Happ is striking out at the lowest rate in his career and 10% less than he did in 2021.
Would the Cubs trade him?
The Cubs have one year of control left after this season, he’s earning $6.9 million this year, and if he continues at this pace, his 2024 salary will easily hit double digits.
They definitely should trade Happ, but it’s the Cubs. Happ’s unlikely to be part of the club’s next championship-caliber team, and his trade can add depth to their farm system.
Happ’s going to cost more than Santander, and he should.
Proposed Deal:
Likelihood Happ is traded (anywhere): 85%.
The price is high, and Grissom’s intriguing, but he’s in A+ ball, and the need is now.
Moving into the short-term rental arena reflects the Atlanta Braves’ moves at last year’s deadline. I expect them to do the same thing this year and have two names on my list that fit the bill, starting with Tyler Naquin.
Atlanta Braves rent from the Reds
Naquin is a 31-year-old left fielder originally selected by the Indians in the first round – fifteenth overall – of the 2012 draft. He had a big year for Cleveland in 2015 but never became the everyday power-bat the club expected, primarily due to his struggles against righties.
The Indians non-tendered him after the 2020 season, and the Reds signed him to a one-year $1.5M deal. Maybe it was the Skyline Chili – ugh- but Naquin suddenly looked like the player Cleveland drafted.
He found his stroke against RHP, batting .283/.339/.514/.853 and hitting 18 homers in 350 PA against righties. On the season, he batted .270/.333/.477/.809 and hit 19 homers in 127 games – 454 PA – last year, to finish the season with 110 wRC+ and a .345 wOBA.
Naquin’s have the same kind of year in 2022, batting .272/.342/.505/.847 with four homers against RHP and .255/.315/.460 overall. Defensively, Naquin’s a league-average left fielder.
Proposed deal:
Knowing how the Reds feel about payroll, I think they’ll be glad to move the remainder of his $4M salary for a small return like Trey Harris.
The Naquin trade is a typical Alex Anthopoulos deal.
Likelihood Naquin is traded: 99%.
Handy Andy
I wanted the Atlanta Braves to grab Andrew Benintendi three years ago, but they passed, and he ended up in Kansas City.
The Red Sox traded Benintendi to the Royals for Franchy Cordero and others in a massive three-team swap that involved the Mets; a salary dump after the Sox 2015 first-round pick has a rough 2020 season.
Benintendi recovered with the Royals to bat .276/.324/.442/.766 and hit 17 homers in 2021.
He’s off to a strong start in the walk-year of his contract, batting .298/.363/.396/.759 with three homers, 11 doubles, and three triples for KC this year.
Sabermetrically, he’s posted 120 wRC+, a .396 wOBA, and lowered his K-rate to 14.7% while maintaining a 9.6% walk rate.
The Royals like Benintendi a lot, but they could decide to trade the soon-to-be 28-year-old outfielder to add depth, then try to sign him again in the offseason.
Proposed Deal:
His age and numbers make him more expensive than Naquin, but they clear the remainder of his $8.5M salary with the trade. I expect the bidding to get involved, but Waters and Freddy Tarnok seem a fair return.
Benintendi and Waters shared identical scouting scores, except Waters is faster. If you’d like Waters without the strikeouts, Benintendi’s your guy.
Likelihood Benintendi is traded: 75%.
The Trade Market
In theory, that leaves them with around $23M before hitting the initial tax threshold; barring something unforeseen, I doubt they get close to the threshold.
Any trade the Atlanta Braves make will depend on the cost in both prospect capital and payroll, balanced against team control and resources.
That’s a Wrap
Anthopoulos said in his interview that it’s an extremely slow market; even teams who know they’ll sell won’t trade unless the other team overpays because they can get the same price at the deadline, and trading early means a PR hit in the clubhouse as well as the stands.
He expects things to pick up a bit as we get closer to the All Star Game and Rule 4 draft. Remember that he announced the Joc Pederson deal immediately after the All Star Game last year, and that went well enough.
Next. If we don't trade him, he could top our list.. dark
Until then, please keep reading our posts and listening to Off Leo’s Rocker. Otherwise, Alan and I are just talking to ourselves. We do that anyway, but at least this way, we can act like others are listening.