Atlanta Braves sign possible bench, backup bat in Yonder Alonso
While we are now nearly one week before pitchers and catchers report to North Port, yet the Atlanta Braves are still involved in refining their options for 2020.
North Port, Florida… that’s going to take some getting used to after the Atlanta Braves have wintered for some twenty-two years at Disney World, but it starts next week.
When the position players arrive the following week, there will be yet another new face among them, thanks to a signing today:
Free-agent 1B Yonder Alonso has signed a minor-league deal with the #Braves, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 4, 2020
To be sure, Alonso is on the back side of his career, turning 33 in early April. Also note that he’s a not a shoo-in to make the active roster.
He’s a first baseman by trade, though has been more of a DH since moving to the American League in 2016. The Rockies brought him back to the NL for the back end of the 2019 season, but he saw just 84 plate appearances.
At the plate, the lefty-hitting Alonso has been a thumper, but that’s primarily come against right-handed pitching. His batting average hasn’t been great either way, but of his 100 career homers, 81 have been against righties.
While that power might give him some value, he’s position-limited and nearly platoon-limited. Oh and Freddie Freeman is … well, let’s just say that Alonso isn’t taking Freeman’s job. He can provide backup services for the best first baseman in baseball… but that’s about it.
While noting that power distinction, it is notable that the Cuban expatriate did hit better against southpaws in 2019… though that was in just 71 PA’s. At the same time, he was terrible against right-handed pitching: .183 with a .581 OPS.
That will have to improve if he wants a bench spot with Atlanta.
With 13 position-player spots on the 26-man roster, one bench spot belongs to the day’s backup catcher, one each to Nick Markakis and Adam Duvall, one to Adeiny Hechavarria, and … then that last spot might be a battle between Charlie Culberson and Alonso.
In case you’re curious about Austin Riley… odds are that he starts in Triple-A to get consistent playing time until the club deems him ready for a return.
Next. Handicapping Felix Hernandez' Chances. dark
Right now – my bet is probably on Charlie.