Atlanta Braves: Braves Add Veteran Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves have taken the first step to building a new rotation for the 2017 season. The Braves have signed R.A. Dickey to a deal.
The Atlanta Braves headed into the off-season focused on one priority, improving their unimpressive 2016 pitching to help what looks to be shaping up to be an above average offense for the Braves. While they still trust they have help coming soon from their farm system they have been looking to supplement several spots in their rotation until prospects prove themselves ready.
Early this winter they have been rumored to be exploring acquiring a top end pitching option like Chris Archer from the Tampa Bay Rays. It is doubtful that the Braves target any aces however, as they have made it known they are not looking to give up any of their top prospects that teams would expect to get back for a true ace.
The Braves made their first move to fix their rotation by signing forty-two year old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Dickey has spent the majority of his career between the Mets and Blue Jays organizations spending his best years with the Mets, struggling making the move to the American League.
Adding R.A. Dickey is a questionable move considering both his age the fact the Braves are supposed to be turning a corner in their rebuild. The off-season is still in the earliest stages but so far it seems as if the Braves will continue shopping on the bargain aisle and avoid adding any pieces that could truly help them take a step forward and compete in the seasons to come.
R.A. Dickey signed a 1 year deal with an option, the first year of the deal will ensure Dickey an eight-million dollar salary. Dickey will be joining a rotation that at this point he could be looking to be slotted as high as second in dependent on the level of talent that the Braves add in the remainder of the off-season.
Next: Braves Off-season Targets
Dickey’s best seasons came with the New York Mets, with a return to the National League the Braves will hope that Dickey can regain a bit of form and help keep their offense in games in 2017.