Braves: 3 free agents Atlanta absolutely must stay away from

1. Braves won’t find an answer in left field with free agent David Peralta

Outfielder David Peralta has somewhat quietly entered the free agent pool. A quality outfielder with the Arizona Diamondbacks for several seasons, he finished the 2022 campaign as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Peralta would be a fine addition for some ball clubs. The Braves aren’t one of them. He’s clearly on the downside of his career. It goes even beyond not hitting a single home run in any of his 180 plate appearances for the Rays.

The former Gold Glove winner’s defense is going backward as many players in their mid-30s experience. So are each of his offensive totals. There isn’t much he does particularly well anymore. Starting the season with him on the roster would be a mistake by the Braves.

Where Peralta could make sense is at the trade deadline. Depending on where he does end up, he could always turn into a depth piece for the Braves. Something about him seems similar to the army of additions the ball club made back at the 2021 trade deadline. Maybe in a platoon situation, this veteran lefty can bolster the Braves roster.

In the offseason, the Braves should think bigger. There are much better players the Braves can add. They will regret touching a 35-year-old outfielder whose best years are in the past.