Atlanta Braves Should Sign Veteran Jose Bautista
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves are in the full swing of Spring Training but are continuing to monitor their options on the free agent market. Jose Bautista is one player that the Braves should at least explore signing to the active roster.
Jose Bautista would perfectly fill two of the Braves’ current roster issues. The first is the fact that they need another outfielder until Ronald Acuna is ready to come up from the minor leagues.
The Braves roster is also worrisome in how little power they have in their lineup or from their bench. Adding Jose would give the Braves pop to start in left field or a late power hitter to come off the bench in key spots.
In the current free agent landscape bringing in Jose wouldn’t be horribly expensive and would help the Braves improve.
The one concern would be the fact that Jose’s production took a big step back last year. At thirty-seven it is hard to see his production improving all that much.
Even if that were the case Jose would have plenty of value if the Braves pick their spots to use his power.
Paired with Lane Adams and Kurt Suzuki on the bench the Braves bench would look a lot more formidable. The biggest hurdle to such a deal would be if Bautista is at a point in his career where he is willing to be a bench player.
If he isn’t willing to accept such a role the Braves should have little to no interest considering they already have Nick Markakis to move on from and two up-and-coming outfielders. Bautista may not make the Braves contenders but he would move them another step in the right direction as Spring Training continues.