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A Few Atlanta Braves Bench Trade Options

By Alan Carpenter

Jul 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; The glove of Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) (not shown) sits on the dugout steps during the game against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; The glove of Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) (not shown) sits on the dugout steps during the game against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; The glove of Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) (not shown) sits on the dugout steps during the game against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; The glove of Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) (not shown) sits on the dugout steps during the game against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

The word is that John Coppolella is on the prowl again – searching for a suitable and productive bench bat.  Let’s see what the options might be at this point.

The situation is not ideal, but after losing one apparently strong candidate in Dustin Peterson this week, the Atlanta Braves are trying to find a bench bat solution that will provide some needed offense deep in games.

The question is then this:  what do they need exactly and who might be available?

Let’s start with the birds currently in their hand:

  • Jace Peterson.  Can play virtually anywhere on the field.  Bats Left.  Has had interesting success with runners on base – notably bases loaded situations (.355 with 28 RBI in 31 AB).  But as a non-starter, he hits just .167 overall.
  • Chase d’Arnaud.  Can play virtually anywhere on the field.  Bats right.  Excellent speed.  Light-hitting almost regardless of the situation, though .308 as a non-starter – which is going to be the case most of the time.
  • Either of Tyler Flowers or Kurt Suzuki.  One or the other might be available, but using up your backup catcher in a pinch-hitting situation is always risky.  Both bat right.

So for defensive replacements, the Braves are more-or-less covered for limited-duration situations.  Peterson and d’Arnaud are more infielders than outfielders, so getting an outfielder for the bench is probably a reasonable idea.

Lefty or righty?  Since the above group leans slightly right, a left-handed hitter would be a better choice.

The lineup regulars line up in this way:

  • LHH:  Inciarte, Freeman, Markakis (3)
  • RHH:  Swanson, Phillips, Garcia, Kemp, Catcher du jour (5)

So yes:  a lefty off the bench would probably be the right call.

Now let’s leaf through a few pages of player catalogs to find somebody.

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