The Braves know they have more than one hole to fill this offseason, but left field stands out as the spot that needs the loudest fix. And if Randy Arozarena really is leaning toward an East Coast return, Atlanta ought to be paying close attention.
Arozarena is the kind of bat the Braves don’t have many chances to chase this winter. The market for impact hitters looks thin, and that makes a player with his track record even more valuable. Atlanta could use a right-handed left fielder who can actually hit, and Arozarena fits that need better than the stopgap options sitting on the roster right now.
That matters because the alternatives are not exactly inspiring. The Braves would seem to be making a mistake if they gave Jurickson Profar another shot after two seasons basically wiped out by PED suspensions. Beyond that, the current choices in left field are mostly platoon pieces, reserve outfielders, or prospects who still aren’t ready for that job.
Arozarena brings a much more complete offensive profile. Even while playing his home games in Seattle’s pitcher-friendly environment, he has put together an .861 OPS with 26 homers in 639 plate appearances so far.
He does especially well against left-handers, but he has hit enough against righties to stay in the lineup regularly. Defensively, he isn’t a standout, though Truist Park is a friendlier place to cover the outfield than T-Mobile Park, which keeps that issue from becoming a total dealbreaker.
The obstacle, of course, is money. There’s no getting around that.
As Ryan Divish said on Foul Territory, “I think we all know Randy [Arozarena] would prefer to stay on the east coast. I’m guessing Boston is ready to cut a huge check for him.”
That lines up with the way this market could unfold. Divish’s comment points toward the Red Sox getting heavily involved, and Boston may not be alone. Arozarena’s history in the AL East could also put the Yankees and Orioles in the mix, which only raises the temperature on what already figures to be a crowded chase.
For Atlanta, the selling point is obvious. The Braves can offer a strong roster, plenty of star power, and legitimate World Series aspirations.
The question is whether that pitch is enough to beat out teams willing to spend aggressively. Alex Anthopoulos has usually preferred to stretch every dollar rather than swing for the biggest name on the market, but this offseason may call for a different approach.
Arozarena is one of the few available bats who could actually solve a long-running problem.
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Braves Survived A Scary Acua Moment In A Huge Late Win
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The good news for the Braves is that the situation did not turn into something far worse, and the team was able to keep pushing toward a needed win. Atlanta edged the Reds 3-2 in 10 innings behind a strong outing from Chris Sale, a result that helped soften the anxiety from Acuas scare and kept the night focused on a hard-earned victory instead of an injury update. [Read more 🡒]