What will the Atlanta Braves do with Jace Peterson?

Jace Peterson has become a fan favorite to many in Braves Country, but assuming Ozzie Albies is the heir to the second base throne, what is Jace’s future with Atlanta?

Jace Peterson got Atlanta Braves‘ fans’ hopes up when he broke onto the Atlanta scene in 2015. Through the months of May and June in 2015, Peterson posted a .272/.357/.401 slash line thanks in part to a .323 BABIP. But from July through the rest of the season, Peterson’s numbers looked like this: a .212/.281/.297 slash and a .271 BABIP.

Jace’s 2016 slightly resembled his 2015 campaign. During the first half of the season, he slashed .279/.349/.408. Then during the second half, after receiving significantly more play time, his slash line looked like this: .236/.350/.335.

So what kind of ballplayer is Jace Peterson? I think he’s a quality utility guy, sometimes more. He has his moments, and gets fans excited sometimes, but the truth of the matter is – Jace Peterson is a lifetime .237 hitter and “Jace On Base” sports a lifetime .319 on-base percentage.

Many saber folks don’t like RISP, but I do. You can tell a lot about a hitter when they have the ability to drive in runs and perform when there’s a guy on second base. Jace’s lifetime performance w/RISP is .236/.346/.396 and last season, he hit .236 w/RISP.

And, for all the saber nerds out there who think Jace is an elite defender – Why was his dWAR -0.7 last season? I can’t believe I just used a WAR stat in a column. I feel so dirty.

So what’s the immediate second base solution for the Atlanta Braves?

More from Tomahawk Take

Let’s assume Ozzie Albies is the future second baseman and let’s also assume the Braves really want to compete this year. Now, if the Braves deem 2017 as another “rebuilding” year, then sure, bring back Jace Peterson at second base. If they want to compete and knock the socks off the NL East, I think they need a different plan.

Look no further than Georgia native and 4 time Gold Glove winner Brandon Phillips. Brandon Phillips could give the Braves exactly what they need and fit perfectly into their Ozzie Albies timeline.

Earlier this month, it was reported by John Morosi that Brandon Phillips is now willing to waive his no-trade clause for the last year of his contract. You think the Braves didn’t notice this?

What better team for Brandon Phillips to waive his no-trade clause than the Atlanta Braves? Phillips currently heads up the Phillips Baseball Center in Pine Lake, Georgia twenty minutes outside of Atlanta and he grew up in Stone Mountain.

What’s even more perfect is the fact that the Reds need pitching. They need pitching even more than the Braves need pitching, and I believe the Braves are currently so loaded with young pitchers that they could offer the Reds a good young arm without feeling any kind of loss.

If the Braves got Brandon Phillips, and swindled the Reds into paying a chunk of his remaining contract, while giving up an arm they don’t really need, it’s a no brainer. He’d be much more effective at the plate and on the field than Jace Peterson.

Next: Will the Braves go after Plouffe?

If Phillips did come to Atlanta for one year, this would free up the Braves to trade Jace Peterson, as he still has value and is still only 26-years-old.

Home/Braves News