Atlanta Braves Moving Olivera to … the Outfield?

Cardinals catcher Ed Easley (23) tags out Atlanta Braves third baseman Hector Olivera (28) at home in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

We didn’t see this one coming, but Buster Olney of ESPN.com have thrown out a grenade this morning that could have a lot of possible implications to the alignment of the Atlanta Braves for 2016 and thereafter

You might think “Well, that’s okay – they’re just experimenting or something.  They’d said he was going to winter ball to work on defense – he’ll get back to third base.”

Grant McAuley has already asked that question this morning… and it was answered.

Okay, What’s Going On Here?

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There are several possibilities, and we should probably address each one in turn:

1. Despite Buster’s bluster on this, maybe it really is about giving Atlanta some options for positioning.
2. In their post-season player evaluations and future plans, the Braves have already decided that maybe third base wasn’t such a good idea for Olivera after all (he had 3 fielding errors in 21 major league games).
3. Something is cooking on the hot stove

A couple of other thoughts to start with:

• This is not going to be about Adonis Garcia.  I seriously doubt that he will be playing third base on Opening Day… for anybody.  His fielding error rate was nearly twice that of Olivera’s:  8 fielding plus 2 throwing errors in 42 games.  If Atlanta were to use him anywhere, it would be Left Field… but now that’s suddenly getting crowded.
• Third basemen are hard to come by.  I’d have to believe that this is why Chris Johnson‘s contract was extended in the first place, and why the Braves went “All In” to get Olivera when Johnson flopped.  That’s what especially make this interesting news.
• Olivera is not working out at his more natural position of second base, either.  That probably means that they still like Jace Peterson for that position… or Jace + Daniel Castro, perhaps.
• Don’t even start thinking about Austin Riley yet.  Yes, he might end up sticking at third base, but that’s a ways off yet.  Heck, he just finished a half-season of Rookie ball.

Best Guesses So Far

On Point #1.  If this is the case, then there is no news – move along; nothing to see here.

Why I think that’s wrong:  Olivera needs reps at third base if he’s going to play third base.  That’s what we were told the original plan was.. and now that’s going by the wayside ‘from Day 1’.  David O’Brien adds a bit in support to this point, though:

However….

On Point #2.  If this is the case, then the Braves have created a hole at a tough-to-fill position.

Why I think this is right:  When Olney mentions “two coaches” in Puerto Rico to assist him – and one of them isn’t 3B specialist Terry Pendleton.  That tells me that Buster is probably correct.  Also, this is happening immediately after the Braves’ internal meetings to evaluate the team and their plans.  Sure, it’s possible that Pendleton will head to PR later on, but they are starting with LF… not the other way ’round.

An important aside:  It is fair to point out that this may represent something of a scouting failure on the part of Atlanta.  They invested an awful lot to get Olivera to play third base.  If, after just 4 weeks, they have decided that he can’t actually play there, then you’ve got to ask what they were looking at.  It wasn’t just that 1 or 2 scouts saw him, either:  it was virtually the entire coaching staff and the most senior scouts.  Yes he can hit, but did they miss this badly on his fielding?

On Point #3.  If #2 is right, then this almost has to be the case.

Speculatin’ Projectin’ Direction

Given that this lightning bolt is now roughly only an hour old, I hate to speculate further… not that twitter shares that reluctance, but it is fair to ask a couple of questions.  If Olivera is going to left field, then…

• Who’s the odd man out:  Michael Bourn or Cameron Maybin?  And how?
• Who’s gonna play third base?

We’ll set aside the first question, because that’s not nearly as interesting or impacting on the 2016 season.  There are teams, though that need the kind of pitching that the Braves can provide – some of which also have possibilities for third base (hat tip to Ryan Cothran for some of this).

• The Cubs – Javier Baez… blocked by Addison Russell at SS and Kris Bryant at 3B
• The Cubs – Starlin Castro.  Also a SS, but been playing 2B.  Cubs could go with Tommy La Stella there
• The Cubs current depth chart features a hole in center field, by the way.
• The Dodgers are 3-and-4 deep at every position, though 3B Justin Turner isn’t going anywhere.  Alex Guerrero might be available – though his performance so far and his contract would be issues.
• For fun, I’ll throw in my favorite fantasy option:  I’d like to believe that the Reds might allow Todd Frazier to depart if Brandon Phillips went with him.  They do need payroll relief and pitching, plus Jace would be an ideal replacement for Phillips and Maybin would be good in left field.

Next: Jonny Gomes is Still Awesome. 'Merica.

That’s enough for now:  I do not expect anything big to happen immediately on this front, but the Braves have managed to give us some interesting early intrigue to launch the Hot Stove season.  We’ll keep watching.