After his tryout last week, suitors are emerging for Tim Tebow. The Braves are one of those, and it kind of makes sense.
While it wasn’t perfect, Tim Tebow’s baseball showcase held this week went fairly well. His swing needs work, and he appears rusty in the outfield. His throwing motion is plagued by many of the same issues that held him back as an NFL quarterback. A few scouts gave Tebow an 80 grade for power, and he ran very well for a 6-foot-3, 255-pound man. And, of course, there are the intangibles that come with an athlete like Tebow.
As the dust settles on Tebow’s showcase, MLB teams have begun emerging as contenders for his services. The Atlanta Braves are reportedly one of those teams, and that’s not as silly as it sounds. The Braves are in a lengthy rebuilding process, and are set to move into their new stadium next year.
Tebow makes a ton of sense for the Braves. Here are five reasons why.
They have nothing to lose
If the year was 1996 instead of 2016, it would make no sense for the Braves to sign a player like Tebow. In the past, the Braves were perennial contenders, racking up division titles behind Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Chipper Jones. That’s no longer the case. The Braves are headed for a 100-loss season after losing 95 a year ago. In the first full year of their rebuild, the Braves are still a long ways off from contending again.
There is really no reason for the Braves not to sign Tebow and let him play in their minor league system. The Braves top-30 prospect list is filled almost entirely with young pitchers. The mound is clearly the primary area of focus for the front office as they look to rebuild the team. There are only three outfielders in the top 30, and two of them are still in the lower levels of the minor leagues.
Adding Tebow to the Double-A or Triple-A roster would not steal playing time and at-bats from a top prospect. Tebow could slide into left field or right field without harming the development process of a younger, more elite prospect. Giving Tebow at least one full season in the minor leagues to work out the kinks in his swing is a low-risk/high-reward move for the Braves, and a gamble they can afford to make at this point in their rebuilding process.
Next: The Power potential