Fansided

One free agent each MLB team should sign right now

By Joshua Sadlock

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Alex Cobb
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 27: Starting pitcher Alex Cobb /
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PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 04: Jonathan Lucroy #21 of the Colorado Rockies hits an RBI double during the top of the fourth inning of the National League Wild Card game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on October 4, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 04: Jonathan Lucroy #21 of the Colorado Rockies hits an RBI double during the top of the fourth inning of the National League Wild Card game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on October 4, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Braves: Jonathan Lucroy

With an exciting lineup playing in an extremely hitter-friendly park, the Braves have become one of the most explosive teams in baseball. If top prospect Ronald Acuna can live up to the hype, the Braves will be even better at the plate this year. Atlanta’s starting pitchers are still at least a year away from being able to hold it together well enough at SunTrust Park to stay in contention, but it’s coming soon.

The Braves can do much better behind the plate than Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki. Flowers is a serviceable backup being given full-time at-bats on a rebuilding team. The 32-year-old is in the final year of a deal that pays him $3 million a year. That’s money that can easily be shifted into a backup role if the Braves can sign another catcher with a better bat.

Two-time All-Star Jonathan Lucroy is looking for a new home after a disappointing walk year. He started slowly for the Texas Rangers, but picked it up after being traded to the Colorado Rockies. Lucroy is still only 31 and is only a season removed from hitting a career-high 24 home runs in 2016.

Atlanta is a nice landing spot for Lucroy if he wants a pillow deal. He also comes with a reputation as a good defensive catcher and pitch framer. This would represent a low-risk deal for the Braves and a hitter-friendly ballpark for a veteran catcher with something to prove.

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