Atlanta Braves Johan Camargo seems primed for a breakout 2018 season

Braves Camargo looks for successful 2018 season

Many of the top 2017-2018 free agents are still on the market and we’re currently not sure who’s interested in whom. MLB.com lists seven notable free agents still available — Eric Hosmer, Yu Darvish, J.D. Martinez, Jake Arrieta, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas and Todd Frazier. Are the Atlanta Braves interested in any of these players?

We posted a video a few days ago with Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos talking about checking in with free agents and tradable players. Never saying a name he’s reached out about, but gave us one key information…prized prospect, Ronald Acuna, isn’t being traded.

For a while now, a top need for the Braves has been a power hitting third baseman. With Moustakas and Frazier both still without a team, it seems like a guaranteed fit…well, maybe if you’re playing MLB The Show.

My take? I’m split. On one hand, I don’t think we need to sign a third baseman. On the other, I do. Here’s why…

I’ll start with why we need to sign Frazier or Moustakas. The Braves need protection for Freddie Freeman. Plan and simple. Nick Markakis or Tyler Flowers won’t scare any pitcher in 2018. And Acuna shouldn’t be in the 4-hole in 2018.

Really, that’s the benefit I see with signing one of the two and that’s the only reason. Frazier could make the most sense because we could probably sign him for a one or two-year deal.

On the other side of things, I don’t feel like we need to sign a third baseman.

I’ve been a huge supporter for Johan Camargo and that will continue.

Camargo and Dominican Winter League

Camargo has been playing in the Liga de Beisbol Dominicano (Dominican Winter League) for the majority of the offseason and continues to this day.

Camargo and the Aguilas Cibaenas finished second in the regular season with a 27-23 record. The league is currently in the Round Robin portion of the season. These playoffs started in early January and will run through the rest of the month…if your team moves on.

Each team that made it to the playoffs — top four regular season records — plays 18 games in a round robin format. Guess what today is?? The 18th game! And there are some major implications on to who moves on and who doesn’t.

The two teams with the best record will move on. Licey will move on to the championship round. The team to play them? Could be any of the three other teams.

More from Braves News

Licey 11-6

Aguilas 8-9

Escogido 8-9

Gigantes 7-10

So the games today are Licey vs Escogido and Aguilas vs Gigantes. If Escogido can somehow beat Licey and Aguilas beats Gigantes, we’ve got ourselves a tie. If Gigantes beats Aguilas and Licey beats Escogido, we’ve got ourselves a three-way tie!

Who cares about those NFL playoffs this weekend…we’ve got ourselves two really cool and good matchups in the DWL!

Camargo has been playing primarily at third base, is batting second in the lineup and is currently hitting .257 in the playoffs. In the regular season, he batted .324/.425/.500 with five doubles, one triple and two homers.

The 24-year-old could be in line for a breakout season in 2018. He was on his way in 2017 before that freak jump/hop over the white chalk line injury. This guy is going to hit for average all day. He’s going to get on base, but he won’t be that power hitter from the hot corner we’re all looking for.

As the Braves sit on January 20, 2018, we have to think Camargo is our everyday third baseman. Things could change, but he’s our guy right now.

Next: GM Anthopoulos & MLB.com extremely high on Acuna

If no moves are made…our Opening Day lineup could look like this…(if Acuna starts the year in Triple-A)

Ender Inciarte CF
Ozzie Albies 2B
Freddie Freeman 1B
Tyler Flowers C
Nick Markakis RF
Johan Camargo
Dansby Swanson
Lane Adams/Preston Tucker
Pitcher

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