The Atlanta Braves are considering Freddie Freeman at third base; Could this actually happen!?

As Freddie Freeman’s return to the Atlanta Braves lineup looms, he appears willing to move to third base. Why? To keep the red hot Matt Adams in the everyday lineup.

I get it. Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is always willing to do whatever it takes to help this team win ball games.

Apparently, this also appears to include moving to third base when he comes off the disabled list sometime in August.

Freddie played third all through his high school career. I’ll admit, to be able to have both Matt Adams and Freeman in the everyday lineup is rather enticing. The potential to have that production along with the power makes it really interesting.

Braves beat writer for MLB.com, Mark Bowman reported this such possibility. In an article written on Tuesday, Bowman lays out at least the fact that the Braves have been discussing the move.

Bowman quotes Braves skipper Brian Snitker, saying, “We’re trying to explore all of the options and see what is best for everybody,” and “We can’t rule out anything”.

Fake News?

Me personally, I’m on the fence about this. I honestly don’t really see this happening. However, I also see it at least being experimented with. I’d be lying if I didn’t say my first, gut reaction was that this was ludicrous.

But then I think back to when Chipper Jones was moved to left field 2002 and 2003 when Vinny Castilla was the third baseman. Chipper also spent parts of the 1995, 1996, and 1997 seasons in left or right field.

Matt Adams, until this season with the Cardinals, had never set foot in the outfield. Even at the MLB level, learning curves should be expected; even with the most veteran of players.

I don’t exactly agree with moving Freeman to 3B. I think the value Adams has built for himself is stronger on the trade market than keeping him at 1B, and forcing a move to 3B for Freddie.

Is it really worth an experiment like this, this year? Maybe, maybe not. The club will make that call. Still, the possibility has merit in that it COULD work. After all, the Braves are in second place in the NL East. If this kind of move works, it could push the club over the hump after the ASG break.

This is the type of situation, should it come to fruition, that makes or breaks a team. You’ll either be made to look like a genius or an idiot.

Another Idea?

Another option? Trade Nick Markakis.

It hurts my heart to speak of such buffoonery, but even my deep affinity for Kakes won’t stop the Braves from moving him. However, this leads me back to my previous statement.

The Braves should get more value in return for a smoking hot Matt Adams than Nick Markakis. And I would rather spend the rest of this season with the slightly above-average outfield play of Kakes, than the well-below-average outfield play from Adams.

I’m not a fan of this if Adams stays at 1B and Freeman moves to 3B. I can get on board more if Adams is tried in the OF for a minute or two, while still keeping Kakes in the hip pocket. However, that runs the risk of possibly hurting Adams’ value. If he under-performs, does he become non-tradeable?

My bottom line, though, is that the Braves ought to sell high on Adams’ value while Freeman returns to 1B, as if nothing happened.  Just rewind the clock back to early May.

So What’s Really Going On Here?

Could this be a posturing, tactical move to increase the value of Adams? Possibly. BUT … I actually think they WANT to keep Adams. So badly, in fact, that the thought of moving Freddie to 3B, although semi-crazy to some of us, is an expression of the level to which the Braves like him and want to keep him for the rest of the season.

Freeman’s willingness to do so (move to 3B), only speaks to the type of player and person he is. Truly an admirable, selfless act to benefit the team.

Even Braves legend and future Hall of Famer, Chipper Jones, praised Freddie for being the selfless player, teammate that he is. Although, he left a few thought provoking things to ponder while doing so.

The Braves, like the last 2 years, will be BOTH buyers and sellers at the deadline again. That being said, we could be discussing a phantom situation. Meaning, by the time 4:00 PM EDT, July 31st rolls around, the offers for Matt Adams may be so lucrative, this whole discussion becomes a moot point.

As far as that goes, Adams’ limitations defensively hurts him (and the Braves) in some ways. However, I don’t think it’s enough to drop his stock that horribly. His best fit is in the American League, which sucks for the National League.

Next: Potential Trade Partners for Matt Adams

Huh … maybe it’s time I reevaluate my stance on the designated hitter coming to the NL, because I think I just advocated a reason FOR it.  If the DH were in the Senior Circuit as well, this giant dilemma solves itself.