Atlanta Braves Five Off-season Free Agent Targets
By Kit Anderson
4. Take a Shot at Landing Manny Machado if Bryce Harper goes Elsewhere
For the Braves they are obviously not capable of landing Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. This list isn’t to suggest they land both rather they target both and hope to land one of the two.
Either hitter would put Atlanta’s lineup over the top and fill a need. Machado could play third or shortstop dependent on how the rest of Atlanta’s season goes.
He is a great defender and has a power hitting ability with more than 35 homers in a season twice, while hitting for average with a career .282 average. Not to mention, he is just entering the prime of his career. There really isn’t much to dislike about Manny he is a good hitter and will be a huge boost to whichever clubhouse he ends up in.
The biggest question mark with this move is Austin Riley and if the Braves truly believe in the young third baseman. If so, Machado’s only spot on the team would be shortstop where Dansby Swanson is thought to be firmly entrenched.