Atlanta Braves mailbag: Fans ask about the bench and other moves
By Fred Owens
As the Atlanta Braves fans eyes glaze over waiting for the signing of a third- baseman/cleanup-hitter, they ask who else the team might add for 2020.
Jdawg wants to know who might fill out the Atlanta Braves bench in 2019.
Matt wrote a piece breaking down the bench needs and offered suggestions last Sunday. The 26-man roster should provide a five-man bench for Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker in 2020.
We know the bench will include Tyler Flowers, and barring a trade, either Nick Markakis or Adam Duvall and the glove-first shortstop – I look at the shortstop position in more detail below.
If you consider Duvall the right-handed pinch hitter, there’s an open spot for a left-handed power threat and a super-utility player. The super-utility role looks like Johan Camargo’s to lose. The Braves gave him a little extra in his arbitration package, and if he hits and acts as if he wants it, he’s the most likely to break camp in that role.
The backup plan could be Charlie Culberson, but he had a down year at the plate compared to his amazing 2018 season. His 2019 numbers look a lot like those before he came to Atlanta, and is probably what we’d see in 2020. If Camargo doesn’t grad the job, Brock Holt will do nicely, thank you.
Holt’s name came up in comments, and he’s a nice utility player who won’t kill a defense at any position, but like Culberson, he’s not a glove-first player at any position.
Left-handed power
Last year Matt Joyce ably filled the left-handed pinch hitter role, and he’s a possibility for 2020. However, hoping for the same production from him two years running is an extremely optimistic view,
MLBTR lists six other lefties unsigned right now; Holt, Curtis Granderson, Billy Hamilton, Jon Jay, Leonys Martin, and Mitch Moreland. The name that intrigues me is Moreland.
Moreland started with the Rangers splitting time between first base and a corner outfield role. He consistently hit 20+ homers a season for Texas and continued to produce power for the Red Sox.
Since 2016, Moreland’s batted .143/.319/.446/.765 and hit 78 homers, in 1670 PA. Like Joyce, Moreland is an emergency outfielder these days, but he’s a fine defensive first baseman as well. With Moreland on board, Snitker could justifiably rest Freddie Freeman once a week without sacrificing defense.