Atlanta Braves outside the box thinking for a Braves new third baseman
By Fred Owens
The Atlanta Braves still need a third baseman, and free-agent prices are soaring, the search for the future resident at Sun Trust Park’s third-base should widen to include more than the usual suspects.
As the Atlanta Braves scan the free-agent third base market, only Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson are the only real targets among those who’ve played the position lately. On Saturday, Rangers beat writer Evan Grant Tweeted that the Rangers, “Focus (is) squarely on Rendon for the time being,” and MLBTR expanded on that.
"The Rangers reportedly offered Zack Wheeler a $100MM contract before he signed with Philadelphia, so the purses strings have been loosened . For now, however, they’re stuck in traffic waiting to see if the “Adrian Beltre treatment” can sell Rendon on playing the latter half of his career in Arlington."
The Rangers have money, and their new ballpark demands another hero, so it would surprise a lot of people is Houston native Rendon isn’t a Ranger next year. If the Rangers are successful, demand for Donaldson ticks up a notch along with the price.
I’ve said I’d happily give Donaldson four years, but that alone may not convince him. While we keep hearing Kris Bryant’s name, I don’t believe anything happens until the grievance is settled On October 24, the Chicago Tribune told us the hearing would happen that week. Jon Heyman said then, that getting a decision could take months.
On October 26, Patrick Mooney wrote in The Athletic ($) that. “ A resolution should come by the winter meetings in the middle of December.” On November 4, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers Tweeted tat the hearing had “resumed”. Keeping in mind that the original grievance filing took place in December 2015, I’d say we can have a resolution by the time he retires. Even if he’s available, the cost may keep the Braves away; he’s a Scott Boras client who will test free agency given a chance,
The only remaining free-agent third basemen of note are 34-year old Todd Frazier, the talented but inconsistent Starlin Castro, and recently nontendered Travis Shaw, none of whom are particularly exciting options. The trade market is pretty thin as well.
The Royals have stars in their eyes over Hunter Dozier, the Marlins will ask a big return for Brian Anderson if they decide to listen, and Arizona might listen on Eduardo Escobar. In theory, the Yankees might trade Miguel Andujar, but he’s a third baseman in name only. He didn’t play in 2019 due to injury, but in 2018 he ranked at the bottom of the third base list defensively; his –25 (minus 25) DRS is literally twice as bad as the next lowest rated player and his UZR of –16 is officially equal to awful.
We’ve discussed most of these players to pieces, but I have two outside the box players for your consideration.