The Braves have spent too long patching together left field, and the latest deadline move only sharpened the problem. Lane Thomas arrived as a fix on paper, but the fit never really took hold, and now he’s hurt. After another round of short-term answers falling flat, Atlanta’s offseason to-do list should be obvious.
Jurickson Profar’s presence has helped turn left field into a mess, and his two straight PED suspensions have only made the situation harder to manage. The bigger issue for the Braves, though, is that every attempt to work around him has mostly gone nowhere. Outside of a few brief hot streaks, the production has been thin, and the defense hasn’t bailed anyone out either.
That’s the frustrating part for Atlanta. Left field around the league often becomes the spot where teams hide their weakest glove that can at least contribute some offense, but the Braves haven’t even gotten that much. The players they’ve cycled through have mostly struggled in both areas, which is how a supposed stopgap can turn into a real hole.
Mike Yastrzemski was the latest example. He was supposed to provide at least some offensive steadiness, especially against righties, but that hasn’t carried over in his first year with the club.
Over his last 28 games dating back to early August, he has slid to a .558 OPS. Thomas was brought in to help balance the platoon from the other side, yet he managed only a .171/.261/.317 line before landing on the injured list.
At this point, the Braves can’t keep treating left field like a temporary project. Their in-house alternatives from the minors are still a ways off, so the front office will need to make a real decision this winter.
If Alex Anthopoulos wants to stay internal, Patrick Clohisy has at least forced his way into the conversation after tearing up the upper minors. If Atlanta goes outside the organization, Randy Arozarena stands out as a strong fit who could also help even out the lineup, though the contract he might command could be a problem.
Another option would be Seiya Suzuki.
However it plays out, the Braves have to move on from the cycle of band-aids. This front office has a strong track record of finding value in unexpected places, but that hasn’t happened in left field. Enough is enough.
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