It's a given the Braves will be adding a corner OFer this upcoming off season. In fact, it will likely be priority #1 for the Braves (perhaps slightly behind getting a quality starting catcher).
While we all would love to see Harper brought in on a $350M deal with an opt out after 2-4 seasons to help Freddie Freeman carry the Braves to the postseason, the fact of the matter is it's extremely unlikely other teams won't offer a similar deal with even more guaranteed money in a market that provides more opportunity for exposure and marketing appeal. Too many large market clubs bent over backwards this past off season to reset their luxury penalties to let the Braves outbid them for Harper/Machado.
Pollock is the silver medal for all teams in the market for an OFer. He would be a nice fit for the Braves, both on a financial and productivity basis. The issue with Pollock will be the same as the issue with Cain last off season in that they will be valued for their CF defense. The Braves already have a serviceable CF under control with a very reasonable contract, so it might not be the best allocation of resources to pay for CF defense and then stick that player in a corner OF spot.
Markakis represents a decent fallback option. He is probably going to sit on the FA market long into the off season, and then sign a 1-2 year deal similar to the deals typically given to aging veterans projected to produce 1-2 wins. He is a well respected veteran, a model citizen, and is a very good backup plan for the Braves 2019 OF.
I keep coming back around to Michael Brantley as an option for LF. Before being sidelined by a major ankle injury, Brantley was a consistent high average, moderate power corner OFer...much like Markakis was when the Braves signed him. Since coming back from the ankle injury, he has continued to be the same high average, moderate power corner OFer he was prior to the injury. Nothing about his 2018 peripherals (.308 BABIP, 12.0% HR/FB) suggests significant sustainability issues with his current .308/.355/.493 line.
Brantley is a lot like Markakis at the time the Braves signed him (recent surgery, above average player, early 30s, good average, moderate power, below average defense, should not have a QO attached), and I expect he will cost something similar to the 2019 equivalent of the 4/44 deal Markakis got from the Braves. The difference now is that the Braves are in a position where acquiring such a player makes sense, whereas it probably didn't back when they signed Markakis.
Given Harper will be too expensive, and Pollock will get paid to play CF, I would be in favor of the Braves signing Brantley for around 4/50-4/55...assuming he keeps up his current work.
Reply With Quote