Keeping Matt Adams Could Propel Atlanta Braves
By Jeff Schafer
Is Matt Adams the future for the Atlanta Braves?
With the trade deadline approaching fast, it appears that first baseman Matt Adams will remain on the Atlanta Braves and not be traded. However, with Matt Adams remaining on the roster, what does that mean for the Braves at first base and for the foreseeable future?
ATL indicating to others it will hold Matt Adams. He's cheap for them, he's been good, and it's a lousy market for position-player return.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 19, 2017
Hands down, Freddie Freeman is the Atlanta Braves first baseman. But, being the team player and guy that Freeman is, he would be willing to shift positions to third base in order to accommodate what the Braves need and make the roster work, since Adams was acquired when Freeman went down with a broke wrist and is signed through 2018.
Keeping both Freeman and Adams could work
With the promise Adams has shown, keeping him on the roster could be what helps the Braves make their way back to the postseason. Adams has displayed he has the tools to be a valuable asset when he is in the lineup. Plus, statistically, Adams has put up very similar numbers at the plate to Freeman.
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Freeman has 187 plate appearances with 62 hits, for a .332 batting average, along with a .695 slugging percentage and .432 on base percentage, while hitting 17 home runs with 37 RBI’s.
In comparison, in 189 plate appearances, Adams has 55 hits, for a .291 batting average, along with a .598 slugging percentage and .337 on base percentage, while hitting 14 home runs with 37 RBI’s.
Additionally, Adams has a .993 fielding percentage, clearly displaying he can be a contributor if Freeman is in the lineup, or makes the shift to third base.
With the effectiveness Adams has shown, is this the reason why the Braves have decided against putting Adams up for a trade? Or, with the trade market not panning out as the Braves have thought it would, is Adams considered to be a guy the Braves want to remain on the roster for this season and allow him to put up good numbers and use him as trade bait in the offseason?
Really, it is a good decision by the Braves front office to keep Adams for now. Keeping him plugged into the lineup at first base and moving Freeman to third, allows for both hot corners to have players who can put up numbers.
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Time will tell, but Adams could be the wildcard in getting the Braves back in the postseason.