Atlanta Braves: Should They Resign Kurt Suzuki?
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves have an interesting decision to make this off-season as to whether or not to bring back Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki. Kurt Suzuki is in the middle of a career year despite being a veteran hitter.
The Atlanta Braves are enjoying what has been a career year for veteran backstop Kurt Suzuki. Although he has been primarily the back-up to Tyler Flowers Suzuki has been a very useful role player slashing .269/.345/.888 and already matching his career high number in homers (15) with still more than a month to go in the season.
While those numbers may seem like a good reason to bring Suzuki back the Braves should consider letting Suzuki go and adding a more defensively minded catcher. When you take a closer look at Suzuki’s numbers as well he is enjoying his best season to date and has hit only one home-run less than he did in the last three full seasons combined.
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He is set to take a step back offensively next season and with his improved production this year will likely see his salary go up. The Braves found another very good veteran bargain in Kurt Suzuki but they should not make the mistake they did with A.J. Pierzynski and bring him back expecting more of the same.
The free-agent catching market is thin next season but there are upgrades over Kurt Suzuki that will be on the open market. Suzuki is thirty-three as well, nearing an age that catchers usually begin to see a decline in production.
Within the Braves own farm system there doesn’t seem to be a catching prospect who is nearing the big leagues any time soon. Like many systems catcher is one position that even the Braves deep farm is lacking in.
Next: Braves Off-season Targets
Kurt Suzuki is having a great season and the Braves should enjoy having Suzuki for the remainder of the year before moving on to an upgrade next season.