FanPost

2017 Third Base Options


The Braves have had plenty of weaknesses in the 2016 season, and third base is clearly one of them. As many predicted, Adonis Garcia's 2015 power surge was nothing more than a mirage, and his ISO dropped from .220 to .116. The result? A .256/.296/.373 slash line. On top of that, his defense isn't near good enough to make up for his offensive deficiencies.

Rio Ruiz was considered by some as a top 100 prospect when he came over in the Evan Gattis trade, but he doesn't appear to be ready to take over the MLB job quite yet (.268/.353/.368 in AAA).

Let's take a look at some of the options that will be available on the free agent market this offseason.

Martin Prado

A fan favorite during his seven seasons in Atlanta, Martin Prado has continued to play well over the last four years with the Diamondbacks, Yankees, and Marlins. Prado is currently in the midst of arguably his best season since he left Atlanta in 2012. Through 89 games, Prado is hitting .314/.364/.409 with 21 doubles. His power is down (3 HR and a .095 ISO), but his defense at third has been very good. He will very easily land a multi-year deal this offseason, and I wouldn't be shocked if it's similar to the 4-year $40M contract he signed with Arizona four years ago.

Justin Turner

For the first five seasons of Justin Turner's MLB career, he was nothing more than a classic utility infielder. He broke in with the Orioles before being claimed by the Mets in 2010. He played 5 different positions for New York and posted a .265/.326/.370 slash line over parts of 4 seasons in New York. The Dodgers signed him before the 2014 season and got more than they ever could have bargained for. Since joining LA, Turner has hit .298/.371/.488, good for a 140 wRC+. On top of that, he's been a solid defender at third base, and is well on his way to posting his third straight 3+ fWAR season. A year younger than Prado, Turner will be 32 in 2017.

Ian Desmond

Ian Desmond may be an odd name on this list since he has never actually played third base in the major leagues, but given Desmond's six years as starting shortstop for the Nationals and his excellent athleticism, third base could be a smooth transition for him. Desmond signed very late last offseason, joining the Rangers on February 29th. With the organization already stacked on the infield with names like Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo, the Rangers made the decision to move Desmond the outfield. And although his outfield metrics are only through 92 games, Desmond has graded out as an excellent defender in both left field and center field. On top of that, he's having his best offensive season of his career. Desmond is hitting .319/.372/.535 (somewhat inflated due to a .389 BABIP), and he's well on his way to his third 20-20 season of his career. The 30-year-old could be a very intriguing option for the Braves since he could be an option at multiple positions.

Other notable options:

Gordon Beckham is currently in his first season with the Braves, and despite two DL stints, it's been one of his most productive offensive seasons of his career. Beckham is hitting .262/.351/.431 and could be headed to a contender before the trade deadline.

David Freese has been a pleasant surprise for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their quest for the 2016 playoffs. After signing for a modest $3M contract during spring training, Freese has posted a .285/.364/.460 slash line over 308 PA. Freese will turn 34 in 2017.

Steve Pearce has only appeared in 2 games at third base over the last 5 years, and both of those games were this season with Tampa Bay. Pearce also has experience at 1B, 2B and both corner outfield spots. He may not be a full time option for Atlanta, but he could be someone the team looks into as a platoon candidate should they decide to promote Rio Ruiz in 2017.

Like Pearce, Luis Valbuena could be another option in a platoon scenario. But unlike Pearce, Valbuena would be the option versus RHP. The thirty-year-old is hitting .255/.360/.475 versus RHP in 2016, and he's regarded as a solid defender at third.

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Battery Power.