House That Hank Built
Fansided

Offseason progress in the NL East: the Atlanta Braves

By Alan Carpenter

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 18: First baseman Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after getting hit by a pitch in the eighth inning during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on April 18, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 18: First baseman Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after getting hit by a pitch in the eighth inning during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on April 18, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
MIAMI, FL – MAY 14: The third base bag before the start of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 14, 2017. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – MAY 14: The third base bag before the start of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 14, 2017. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

Third Base… or maybe elsewhere

Here are the scenarios that might play out as a result:

ONE

  • Donaldson signs with Atlanta
  • LF is a Markakis/Duvall platoon. That probably isn’t worse than last year but with JD in the house, we might not care.

TWO

  • Donaldson signs elsewhere
  • Braves go with Camargo and (possibly Riley in a platoon)
  • Braves make a significant trade or signing for a corner outfielder
    • He almost certainly won’t quite be the equal of Donaldson offensively

THREE

  • Donaldson signs elsewhere
  • LF is a Markakis/Duvall platoon
  • Braves find a third baseman to play there via trade
    • He almost certainly won’t quite be the equal of Donaldson offensively

FOUR

  • Donaldson signs elsewhere
  • Braves make a huge trade involving both a third baseman and left fielder.
    • Combined, the new players could be the offensive equal of Donaldson

In theory, scenario 5 would be ‘Braves sign Donaldson and then trade for an impact corner OF bat’; except that this simply won’t happen.

Projections

There isn’t a good way to handicap the odds of which scenario is most likely to play out.  The real disaster for the Braves is if – somehow – either the Mets or Phillies sign Donaldson… no, not the Nationals, for Atlanta already faced them down with Rendon last season.

Instead, the Mets and Phils both need 1 more impact player and they have possible third base openings.  Either one would definitely be helped the most by acquiring Donaldson.

In doing so, the Mets would immediately become the division favorite.  The Phillies… would be close, but they still have pitching issues.

The Braves, overall, have a chance for a better rotation, but they have some depth issues.  Look for a veteran arm to be picked up during Spring that could be stashed at Gwinnett.

Their bullpen is easily the class of the division, and perhaps the league, too.  That will help win games even if the offense ends up not being quite as good as in 2019.

Overall:  the rest of the division is trying to catch up, and the Braves relying on internal performance improvements, good health, and a shut-down bullpen.

At this time, we’ll still anticipate that the offense will be bolstered somehow, and that the bullpen balances out the improvements made by the other divisional foes.

dark. Next. How was that 2019 Draft? 1st in a series

Thus this Atlanta Braves projection for 2020 as we sit today:  a 95-67 record and 1st place in the NL East.  That’s a projected tie with the Nationals… and a Game 163 that the Braves win.

Home/Braves News