The Atlanta Braves had several players with club options heading into 2024 and had a lot of decisions to make on Monday. Amongst these players was left fielder Eddie Rosario and it appears that his time with the Braves has come to an end.
Let’s take a look at why this was a good decision and a couple of reasons why it was not.
Why it was the right decision
1. Eddie’s Performance has declined
When Eddie Rosario came to the Braves in 2021, he played a major role in leading the team to their first World Series title since 1995. He was even the NLCS MVP.
Rosario saw the majority of time in left field in 2023. He appeared in 142 games where he hit .255 with 21 home runs and 74 runs batted in. While these numbers seem respectable, he also struck out 122 times and only walked 34 times. His on-base percentage only totaled .305 this past season.
In addition to recent struggles at the plate, Eddie Rosario has been viewed as a liability defensively. Even though he was considered for a Gold Glove Award in 2023, watching Rosario play the outfield is anything but natural.
The Braves declined the club option on Eddie Rosario, who will always be remembered for his incredible tear in the 2021 NLCS.https://t.co/8R9PqEInGG
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) November 6, 2023
2. The free agent outfield market is strong
For the past two seasons, the Braves have had an early postseason exit. After winning 104 games in the 2023 regular season and then wasting the #1 seed ranking in October, Atlanta is looking for revenge. Alex Anthopoulos could make a big splash in the offseason to take the team to another level. This could come from the outfield free-agent market.
Obviously, some of these individuals may be out of the Braves budget but the following notable players are looking for a new team to sign with ahead of 2024: Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger, Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall, and JD Martinez.