What Needs Improvement For The Atlanta Braves?
By Jeff Schafer
Braves Season Marks a Rebuild
The Atlanta Braves, as we all know, are in a rebuild this year. So does that mean that 2018 will bring instant success? Well, that all depends on how you take it and what you look for the Braves to do. But it also depends on what moves the Braves make not only in the offseason with bringing up talent from their farm system, but also what trades the Braves engage in.
Now take a look though at the current Braves roster and depth chart for the roster. What are the roles that need immediate attention in the offseason for the Braves? Looking at the current roster, the top two immediate positions are left field and starting pitching.
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How Are These Holes Filled?
Lets start in left field. If you look at the way the Braves have used position players in left field this year, the original plan was to have Matt Kemp hold down the position for the season. A veteran leader in the clubhouse and a bat that still had some spark. However, Kemp’s hamstring has been about as reliable as a piece of ice on a hot summer day, with no telling on when it is going to blow out.
With that happening, the Braves have had to do a mixture of different players to hold down the position – Matt Adams, Lane Adams and Jace Peterson. So do the Braves make a trade in the offseason for a left fielder? Say Adam Duvall of the Cincinnati Reds? Duvall did just have four hits in thirteen at bats in the past three games against the Braves, which included a home run and two RBI’s. But, Duvall is currently twenty eight years old. Not really a push in youth for the Braves.
Now starting pitching. We all know that Julio Teheran and R.A. Dickey are not the ones who are going to take the Braves back to the postseason. What would be the reason to sign Dickey to an extension? Why not save the money and go after a big pitcher?
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Now you have to ask yourself, is the current front office the front office that is going to bring the Braves back to the postseason?