Braves: 3 moves they must make before Opening Day
By John Buhler
2. Figure out left field and overall outfield depth
Atlanta’s strength as a ball club is its lineup. You would be hard-pressed to find a regular position player you would have issues with. This is a team that had four prominent members of its batting order win Silver Sluggers a season ago. However, the glaring position that has not been filled this offseason has been left field. It is not much, but it is certainly something to worry about.
Last year, the Braves used a combination of Adam Duvall and Nick Markakis primarily in that role, with typical outfielder Marcell Ozuna serving as the team’s designated hitter in a one-of-a-kind season. With the DH rule probably not becoming universal in 2021, that has thrown a wrench into the Braves’ offseason plans to address the left field position. It may end up costing them Ozuna.
The idea is Atlanta will have Ronald Acuña Jr. and Cristian Pache starting in the outfield right from the jump. Acuña is already a superstar and Pache is the Braves’ top prospect. If they do not re-up with Duvall, Markakis or Ozuna, that could indicate Ender Inciarte keeping the seat warm before the Braves’ No. 2 prospect Drew Waters is ready to play at the big-league level. This could happen.
However, that is too risky of a move to have Acuña be the elder statesman of the outfield with Pache and Waters playing alongside him. If that is the course of action in 2022, that should be totally fine. The only problem with going this direction right from the jump is Atlanta would be putting too much pressure on two rookies to sink or swim. They will swim, but how sure are we?