Atlanta Braves Will Have Questions to Answer in the Outfield
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves outfield has many questions to answer this off-season. With no clear starter in left field to begin the season and Nick Markakis continuing to age the Braves outfield will have many questions to answer.
Outside of Ender Inciarte in center field the Atlanta Braves have no clear consistent production coming out of their outfield in 2018. The season is less than a month from starting and the Braves have an outfield of questions.
Ronald Acuna Jr. is on the cusp of breaking into the Braves everyday lineup. That day cannot come soon enough for the Braves and their fans. But a year after rushing Dansby Swanson to the team and seeing his struggles as a result the Braves are likely to be more patient.
That patience is well founded and the correct decision but it leaves a hole in the Braves lineup. With questions surrounding the Braves outfield only Inciarte will remain as a constant.
Nick Markakis is on a bad contract and starting to show his age at the plate and in the outfield. It is time for the Braves to move on from the veteran. Keeping Markakis should only be an option if the Braves are unwilling to spend money in a cheap free agent market.
Spending money on a fourth outfielder would be a smart decision considering that their current outfield will be made up of Lane Adams, Ender Inciarte, and Nick Markakis.
Adding insurance for both Adams and Markakis would be a smart move for a team that seems to be stuck in waiting mode. Waiting for their young prospects to emerge before they are willing to make moves even with a stagnant market.
The Braves have a rare opportunity one that they should take advantage of and use a cheap free agent market to make a weak outfield better.