Nick Markakis
Splashless
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
During the last offseason, Braves Country waited for what seemed like forever for the Atlanta front office to make a splash.
It seemed like for a long while that Atlanta’s fans would be disappointed, but finally the day came when Alex Anthopoulos and company pulled the trigger on two signings that would figure into the Braves’ plans to improve upon their surprising win of the NL East in 2018.
Both Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann were announced to have inked to 1-year deals on the same day.
McCann, in what would be his final season as a big-league catcher, thrived in his return home.
Donaldson merely returned to his heyday form, hitting 37 home runs alongside a .900 OPS and providing the necessary protection behind Freddie Freeman to allow the first baseman to put up his career-best season. Not to mention, being a positive force in the clubhouse who became beloved by the fanbase and provided clutch hits throughout the season (but was he worth the $23 million price tag? Asking for a friend/editor).
It was the kind of banner news day that the Braves were craving.
This year the Braves made moves earlier in the offseason and yet again made news involving two different players on the same day. Though this time they were re-signing two of the pieces from their two-time division-winning team, instead of bringing in new blood.
Nick Markakis and Tyler Flowers actually both had their options declined by the Braves (as did Julio Teheran) but were then each signed to a new, 1-year, $4 million contract.
Essentially, they make the same amount of money after the buyouts are added in, but the Braves save some money on payroll because those buyouts are considered 2019 money.
The Braves still have time to make a big splash (Donaldson negotiations are, one imagines, ongoing), but this two-fer day certainly lacked the excitement of last year’s.
For one, neither of these players are likely to be everyday guys anymore or at least, they shouldn’t be.
Markakis has fallen off in a big way each of the past two years during the second half. He’s well-respected and a good hand to have, but his days of being able to spend a season in the middle of the order are behind him. Hopefully the Braves are looking at him as a backup or at most a platoon player going into 2020.
Flowers has been splitting time at catcher for a few years now to great success. First with Kurt Suzuki and then with McCann. It’s time for him to fall into a true backup role, even though that’s an imperfect solution for his presence on the roster as well.
Flowers’ primary skill is pitch framing. He’s one of the best in the league at stealing strikes for his pitchers; but he also led the majors in passed balls in 2019 as a part-time player.
Plus, he’s consistently been the lesser hitter of his platoon. So, he’s good at framing, which would be helpful five times a week, but bad at catching the ball, which should prevent him from playing five times a week. And he’s a poor hitter, so coming off the bench doesn’t serve anyone well.
The key to Flowers coming back not being a bad decision will be acquiring a front-line backstop. The Braves should be in on the likes of Yasmani Grandal, but they’ll have competition and without a Suzuki or a McCann, Flowers is going to get exposed. This is a big need.
The 2019 offseason has already had some movement, but not coupled with the excitement that 2018’s did around this time.
Luckily, there’s still a lot of road ahead for the Braves to make moves that will take Atlanta to the next level.
Jason Bishop Show With Kipp Branch January 26
Brave Silence
By: TJ Hartnett
GeorgiaSportsEdition.com news services
The MLB Winter Meetings are always an exciting time in the baseball offseason. Each teams’ front office in close proximity and free agents’ representation present too. The chance for trades and signings is high.
This year’s meetings saw some movement, with the likes of Joe Kelly, Charlie Morton, Ian Kinsler, and Andrew McCutchen signing with new teams. Edwin Encarnacion, Ivan Nova, and Carlos Santana being traded (Santana was moved twice).
The Atlanta Braves, however, remained quiet, with their only transaction being one of deduction after the Baltimore Orioles claimed Rio Ruiz off of waivers.
The lack of moves is surprising only in relation to the amount of times Atlanta was mentioned in relation to trades or free agents. It seemed like every day the Braves were name-dropped, be that as a potential trade partner with the Marlins for JT Realmuto or as a destination for a free agent like Michael Brantley.
However, the Meetings ended (Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos actually left early to attend a Liberty Media meeting in Denver) and no triggers were pulled on any front.
It’s easy to look at what the Braves have and haven’t done and be worried. The signings of both Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann made for an exciting Monday, but the three things the Braves really needed to address – a front-line starter, bullpen help, and a starting catcher – remain on Atlanta’s to-do list as the new year draws closer.
However, just because the Winter Meetings have ended without those holes being filled, there is no reason to panic. After all, despite a few big moves there is a lot left to do in the offseason for many teams and several free agents. The two big fish that are Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still swimming around the pool, for example.
JT Realmuto is a still a Marlin, though that is still likely to change before Spring Training. That being said, the news regarding a trade with Atlanta is contradictory: on Saturday, the Braves were reported as frontrunners to land the All-Star catcher, followed by a report just a few hours later that Atlanta was no longer pursuing a trade for him. Believe what you will, but just because the Braves didn’t make a move doesn’t mean that they no longer can.
The same goes for filling a corner outfield spot. While McCutchen could have been a fit, there are other outfielders that might serve Atlanta well.
The biggest issue caused by Cutch’s deal with Philly was actually how much he was paid – $50 million for a 3-year contract. That obviously doesn’t hurt the Braves’ wallet directly, but the former NL MVP is on the downslope of his career. Thus, signing for that average annual value drives up the cost of younger outfielders like Brantley and AJ Pollock.
Unless the Braves want to pony up for those guys, a trade, like the rumored trade for the Tigers’ Nick Castellano, might be the road Anthopoulos could choose to take.
There’s also the possibility of a reunion with Nick Markakis, who will be cheaper than the aforementioned outfielders even after his All-Star campaign in 2018.
While he shouldn’t be expected to repeat that production, he was an integral part of Atlanta’s clubhouse last season, so he would still be welcome there.
The point is, there are still plenty of options, not just in the outfield but on the mound as well. Patrick Corbin has been signed, but Dallas Keuchel remains a free agent; Corey Kluber and Madison Bumgarner have not been traded; relief pitchers can come from nearly anywhere (there’s also Craig Kimbrel, but if his rumored asking price of 6 years, $100 million plus is to be believed, he’s not coming back to Atlanta).
The Winter Meetings may be over, but the Braves’ offseason is far from it.
