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Braves: 3 best options at third base not named Josh Donaldson

By Jake Mastroianni

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 04: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 4, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 04: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on July 4, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 26: Johan  Camargo #17 and Ender  Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves smile after both scored on a single by Ronald  Acuna Jr. #13 during the fifth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 9-2. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 26: Johan  Camargo #17 and Ender  Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves smile after both scored on a single by Ronald  Acuna Jr. #13 during the fifth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 9-2. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

We take a look at 3 potential external fits at third base this offseason for the Atlanta Braves not named Josh Donaldson.

Obviously the number one target for the Atlanta Braves this offseason is third baseman Josh Donaldson.

There is no question that he brought a huge boost to the Braves lineup in 2019 slotted in the cleanup spot behind Freddie Freeman.

And while I’d love nothing more than for Atlanta to re-sign him to a two or three-year deal, I’m starting to get the impression another team is going to beat that offer.

But there are other options for the Braves at third base in 2020 and going forward. And Alan Carpenter put together a more extensive list of third base options earlier in the offseason.

The first option is obviously to not do anything and let the internal options take over at third base.

This is obviously not what Atlanta fans want to hear or see happen, but the Braves could do worse than a combination of Johan Camargo and Austin Riley at third base.

It’s not farfetched to think those two could combine to be a 3 WAR player in 2020. Camargo was a 3.3 WAR player according to FanGraphs in 2018 when he held that job full-time.

I understand that’s a far cry from the nearly 5 WAR player Donaldson was in 2019, but if they went with Camargo/Riley at third I’m assuming they would make significant upgrades in other areas.

While I’d certainly be OK if that happened, I don’t think that’s the Braves plan going into the offseason.

A couple of potential options that aren’t likely, include Eduardo Escobar from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Hunter Dozier from the Kansas City Royals.

I’m not sure either of those teams are willing to trade those players, but if they are, Atlanta should have interest.

Some less intriguing options include Evan Longoria with the San Francisco Giants and Kyle Seager from the Seattle Mariners.

And I just can’t see Atlanta giving Anthony Rendon the contract he’s likely going to get.

I saw someone say that if Donaldson and Rendon are going to get the same AAV, then it makes sense to give it to the younger and better Rendon. And that makes a lot of sense.

But I also think Rendon is going to get a higher AAV.

Here are the three best options at third base for the Braves not named Josh Donaldson.

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