5 free agent targets for the Atlanta Braves
By John Buhler
Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets outfielder
Acquiring Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline by the New York Mets helped catapult the National League East Champion to the 2015 World Series. New York had the starting rotation all along, but needed some big bats to help get them over the top. Cespedes was a major reason for the Mets winning the National League Pennant.
The 30-year-old slugger from Cuba is a two-time American League All-Star and has won two Gold Gloves in his first four years in the big leagues. Since Cespedes is Cuban, he could find a slice of home in Atlanta as third baseman Hector Olivera, manager Fredi Gonzalez, and bench coach Carlos Tosca are a few of those in the Braves organization that were born in Cuba.
Atlanta needs a big time bat to help protect first basemen Freddie Freeman in the middle of the lineup. Though the Braves are good defensively in the outfield, getting a bat to go along with Cespedes’ glove could potentially make Atlanta chomp at the bit to sign him this offseason.
Cespedes will command a lucrative contract after his stellar performance down the stretch in 2015. If Atlanta isn’t blown away by what Yoenis Cespedes is bringing to the club around the trade deadline, the front office could use him as trade bait like the Oakland A’s and the Detroit Tigers did the last two trade deadlines.
The Atlanta Braves may not emerge as a front-runner to land Yoenis Cespedes, but he does seem to fit many of the needs plaguing the club. Atlanta may look at his career .217/.319/.486 splits and his annual 30 homer, 100 RBI power as a no-brainer type of signing, but it is entirely up to Cespedes and his agent if he would want to bring his talents to the Atlanta Braves.
Atlanta may not shell out the most money, but keep in mind, they did overpay for Melvin Upton, Jr. a few offseasons ago. Atlanta needs right-handed power at the plate and Yoenis Cespedes would provide that effortlessly.
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