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Atlanta Braves’ 3B dilemma: if not Camargo, then who?

By Alan Carpenter

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Todd Frazier #29 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to Game Seven of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 21, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 21: Todd Frazier #29 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to Game Seven of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 21, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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There’s an active debate going on right now – whether to “settle” for Johan Camargo playing third base this season or to go find a free agent willing to take a contract.  Does either option make sense?

Let me see if this example illustrates the concern I have here about the Atlanta Braves’ third base situation.

Here’s a player – an infielder – that posted a curious set of numbers one year:

  • 630PA, 29HR, 94BB, 168K, .220 BA, .348 OBP, .732 OPS, 104 wRC+, 3.4 fWAR

Now here’s another infielder’s numbers for a full baseball season:

  • 576PA, 27HR, 83BB, 125K, .213 BA, .344 OBP, .772 OPS.  108 wRC+, 3.0 fWAR

The first player is Dan Uggla – during his 2012/age 32 season with Atlanta.  The second player is Todd Frazier during his 2017/age 31 season with both the White Sox and Yankees.

Uggla, as we know, declined from this – his last decent season – for what still are relatively mysterious reasons.

In 2013, he struggled to a .179 batting average, though with 22 homers.  By 2014, the Braves released him after a .162 start.

Is this Todd Frazier’s destiny?  For his sake, I truly hope not, though Braves’ fans would have to be spooked by the experience of Uggla… particularly when you put these trajectories side-by side:

  • UGGLA (2008-2013):  .260, .243, .287, .233, .220, .179
  • FRAZIER: (2012-17):   .273, .234, .273, .255, .225, .213

Frazier ranks as MLBTR’s 17th best free agent on the market this Winter, and they projected a new contract for him of 3 years and $33 million.

In fairness, $11m per year is probably not a terrible number… unless you have to have all three years.

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The Braves are in a wait-and-see situation with Austin Riley:  many in the organization believe that he’s on the cusp of becoming a really good power hitter with defensive skills.  So getting a player like Frazier on those terms could cause… issues.

So what the Braves would probably like to do … if they are actually interested in bringing Frazier in…  is see if he would be amenable to a ‘pillow’ contract – a 1-year deal (or 1 + an option) for something in the $10-12 million range per season to give him a chance to ‘rebuild his value’ in the hopes that next season might provide a better opportunity for him with another club.

Another possibility?  Eduardo Nunez, who lacks the power potential of Frazier, but hit well over .300 and has a history of hitting for average… though not a lot else.

Both of these third basemen (and others) have been linked to the Braves by various industry pundits.  There’s been no word from the Braves about either player, but a quick glance at the MLBTR free agent tracker shows…well, a fairly light list of real options at the position.

Honestly, with either of these players, the best advantage for Atlanta might be to have Camargo freed up from third base to move around and also bolster the bench.  But only on terms acceptable to Atlanta.

Others seem to agree:

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So we will wait… unless Anthopoulos gets a better offer.

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