3 Braves who won’t be back next season if they miss the playoffs

If the Atlanta Braves do miss the postseason, expect for these three players to be gone.

It took far too long, but the Atlanta Braves are finally playing some great baseball this season.

Atlanta had not been above .500 all season long until the middle of August. Once Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his ACL on the loanDepot Park warning track shortly before the All-Star Game, it felt like season over in Braves Country. However, this team is in a tight divisional race with the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies with presumably only one NL postseason spot on the line.

However, if the Braves miss the postseason this year, expect for these three players to be gone.

Atlanta Braves: 3 players who will be gone if they miss out on the postseason

Stephen Vogt has value, but may hurt top catching prospects from developing

Even though he has not performed well at the plate for the Braves thus far, Stephen Vogt has already served his purpose in Atlanta uniform since being traded over from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Braves were in dire need of a competent backstop before Travis d’Arnaud returned from the 60-day IL. Now that d’Arnaud is back, Vogt is probably not going to play much.

Vogt is 36-years-old and on an expiring contract. Though he could return to back up d’Arnaud initially next season, he would be taking a roster spot from the likes of William Contreras, or better yet, Shea Langeliers. Atlanta has two promising catchers in the minor leagues now. D’Arnaud may be this team’s present behind the plate, but in no way is Vogt part of this team’s long-term future.

While Vogt is likely gone at the end of the season anyway, two others’ spots hang in the balances.