5 free agent targets for the Atlanta Braves
By John Buhler
Ben Zobrist, Kansas City Royals Second Baseman
Signing Ben Zobrist isn’t a long-term solution at this point because the 10-year Major League veteran will play in 2016 at 34 years of age. However, his production as a middle infielder could prove wonderful for the Atlanta Braves should the club either trade Andrelton Simmons or Jace Peterson.
Zobrist is a 2x American League All-Star and won a World Series this year while playing for Kansas City. He’s best known for his time with Tampa Bay, playing for Joe Maddon and helping get the Rays to their first and only World Series to date in 2008.
Ben Zobrist, like most middle infielders, doesn’t hit for a ton of power, but his on-base percentage (.355 for his career) is undeniable. Atlanta has struggled mightily to have high OBPs from their middle infielders since the Edgar Renteria/Martin Prado days.
Zobrist could hit first or second in the Atlanta Braves’ lineup and is a better than average hitter for his position in his big league career (117 OPS+). The only problems with signing Ben Zobrist are that of his age and that it would seem that he and Andrelton Simmons could become mutually exclusive entities in the organization (i.e. There can only be one.)
Since Braves Country would lose their minds if Simmons left the ATL, it seems a little out of reach for the Atlanta Braves to look to upgrade second base with a mid-30-year-old when Simmons is 26 at shortstop and Jace Peterson is only entering his second full season of Major League Baseball.