There has been a healthy amount of rumors so far this offseason about the Atlanta Braves potentially trading for a third baseman, especially with the reps Hector Olivera is getting in left field during winter ball.
But Wednesday night, MLB.com's Mark Bowman dropped this interesting nugget on Twitter:
The #Braves are open to beginning 2016 with Adonis Garcia as their third baseman https://t.co/XQRtVNE6dw
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) November 12, 2015
While I wouldn't read too much into this tweet as anything more than "we will start the season with Garcia at third base if we have to" it is interesting that this sentiment is out there at all. While Garcia did have an interesting stretch where seemingly everything he hit went over the right-center field fence, he's certainly not a first-division, everyday third baseman.
The 30-year-old finished the 2015 season with 198 plate appearances, a .277/.293/.497 triple slash and mediocre glove work at the hot corner at best. Given more context that comes with Bowman's story, it seems that given the current makeup of the team — and plan for Olivera to play left — Garcia would get the first chance to win the job in spring training if no one else was acquired.
Take this quote from John Coppolella:
"It's not set in stone that [Garcia] will be the third baseman," Braves general manager John Coppolella said. "He might share time with Olivera there. There are other guys that we like that could get opportunities there. But right now, I think he's earned first crack at it."
Either way, look for the Braves to continue pursuing other options on the trade market.