Are the Atlanta Braves Content With Their Outfield?

Zoilo Almonte (14) warms up before the start of the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

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, Jr.,

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make up your Atlanta Braves current outfield.  (

).

But there are six names for something between 3 and 5 slots, depending on how you count things.  And yet there was this note via twitter that caught my eye yesterday:

I expect the Heyman misspelled “Giants” for something else in that tweet; but this was still a bit of a surprise… and then I saw some outfield play last night:

Yeah, both of those balls should have been ruled as errors – Almonte’s was particularly egregious as he timidly allowed the ball to play him.  He’s just not been very good, and I do expect his days may be numbered.

we should not sugar-coat this:  the options picked up during the winter for Left Field are not working out as hoped

Offensively, there seems to be enough hitters amongst that group… excepting Almonte and Jonny Gomes, the latter of whom will make the team for flavoring purposes at least.

Defensively, which there have been some reasonably spectacular plays (Perez, Young), there has also been enough offensiveness in fielding to go around – much more than most would be comfortable with.

Certainly not if you’re a pitcher… and that came up last night.

So What Can Atlanta Do?

Fredi Gonzalez has indicated that he wants five outfields on the roster.  Let’s break it down as of today:

• RIGHT FIELD – Barring a setback, this position will take care of itself; Nick Markakis should be getting into games shortly, and still might be ready for Opening Day.  That leaves four spaces.
• CENTER FIELD – One of Eric Young and Eury Perez will start here, likely lasting until sometime in June.  Right now, I would put Perez in the lead, though as of a week ago, Young was in front.  I expect that both make the team.  That leaves two slots.
• LEFT FIELD – Jonny Gomes will make the club.  But he would need a platoon partner.  Joey Terdoslavich is a switch hitter, but he hits better from the right side – like Gomes… at least if you believe the too-small-a-sample major league numbers from 2013.  Either way, his hitting at AAA in early 2014 may be scaring the Braves away.  That suggests Almonte… except that he isn’t even hitting his weight right now (.189/.244 OBP).  One space left.

Of the Candidates remaining – Joey T, Cunningham, and Almonte- only Terdoslavich has been hitting.  Almonte is out of options, and the Braves haven’t really given Cunningham much of a chance.

Plan B… or C…

Heyman’s suggestion in that tweet really comes off as an off-handed comment rather than a real piece of insider information.  He didn’t say “the Braves are looking for outfield help.”

However, we should not sugar-coat this:  the options picked up during the winter for Left Field are not working out as hoped.

Boston Red Sox right fielder Daniel Nava (29). Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

What could be done for LF/CF is something like this:

• Perez and Young share center field, with the competition continuing until Upton returns.  The winner then shares the position with Upton while we see what he can do.  Okay, that’s Center Field.
• As for Left Field, Jonny Gomes goes to the bench.  Almonte is DFA’d (right now, he’d probably clear waivers to AAA); Tedoslavich is optioned to AAA.
• Meanwhile, the Braves then try to pry away one of the spare outfielders that the Red Sox have available.  Mind you, it might not be terribly cheap to do so – especially if you want somebody like a Daniel Nava (who is 32) or Jackie Bradley Jr. who can step in and play every day.  But that would solve the problem.

So your Opening Day 5 would be:  Markakis, Perez, Young, Gomes, and (insert trade acquisition here).

Still not necessarily great, but at least it feels better than the status quo.

We’ve got two more weeks to see how this shakes out.

Next: Wandy is Number 4