3 free agents Braves should sign after missing out on J.T. Realmuto
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Braves missed out on J.T. Realmuto in free agency and must adjust accordingly.
After missing out on catcher J.T. Realmuto in his free agency, the Atlanta Braves have to go back to the drawing board to find the right piece to round out their championship-caliber lineup.
Realmuto re-upped on a record-setting contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, breaking the previous high of average annual value for a catcher that once belonged to Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins. Though the Braves already had a Silver Slugger behind the dish in Travis d’Arnaud, they are still missing that one outfielder/power bat to maybe get them over the top.
3 free agency options for Braves after missing out on J.T. Realmuto
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Cleveland Indians. 3. RF. Yasiel Puig. player. 5
Atlanta nearly brought him onto the 2020 Braves roster
Though he was out of baseball last year, the Braves still had plenty of interest in the enigmatic Yasiel Puig. He was brought into the Braves team facility with all intentions of signing a one-year contract last season. While both parties were interested, Puig tested positive for COVID-19 before putting pen to paper and that was the end to that. Could he be with the Braves for real in 2021?
Puig last played with the 2019 Cleveland Indians and the 2019 Cincinnati Reds before that. He slashed .267/.327/.458 in 149 total games split between the Reds and Indians. Puig massed 24 home runs and drove in another 84. Though he is not the All-Star-level player he was in his early 20s with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he could provide the Braves some needed offensive firepower.
Atlanta needs power from the right side of the plate. As for if he can hit behind 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman, that remains to be seen. However, Puig would be a prime candidate to hit somewhere in the middle of the Braves’ batting order. He may do best hitting fifth, sixth or even seventh. We should also not overlook his excellent glove work in the outfield either. That is a plus.
What has hurt Puig in his baseball career is the perception of inconsistency. A tightly wound baseball organization may not be the ideal landing spot for him in his 2021 MLB free agency. However, Atlanta did just fine with guys like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Marcell Ozuna a season ago. Simply put, Puig can become a fan favorite with his clutch play and intriguing personality.