2 reasons declining Eddie Rosario’s option was the right move, 2 reasons it wasn't
Though Eddie Rosario provided some iconic moments for the Braves, the team decided it was time to part ways.
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.
2 Reasons why they shouldn't have dropped Rosario
1. Price was worth the risk
Oftentimes the reason a team does not exercise a club option is because of the price tag on the player. Eddie Rosario would have earned $9 million next year with Atlanta.
With the success Rosario has had with the team in years past, this cheap price (comparatively), was well worth the risk. If nothing else, having Rosario’s experience and adding depth to the team could be beneficial.
2. Playoff success
Eddie Rosario is one of those players that seem to have a flair for the dramatic. During the 2021 season with the Braves, Rosario came up with several clutch hits including a go-ahead three-run homer in the NLCS that led the Braves to the World Series.
It’s crazy that as absurd as Eddie Rosario’s NLCS was at the time.
— BravesKast (@BravesKast) November 6, 2023
It’s 100x more absurd 2 years later.
It’s like his vision went supernova right before going out.
pic.twitter.com/6EJCky6j72
Rosario’s playoff success in Atlanta was not a coincidence. He had proven he played well in October when he was in Minnesota as well.
In his career in the playoffs, Rosario has played in 8 series (30 games). He is a .296 hitter with 5 home runs and 14 runs batted in over this stretch. When the games matter most, he shows up. This playoff experience and success would have been nice to keep on the Braves roster for 2024.
More from House That Hank Built
manual