Braves’ $29M Gold Glove gamble may backfire with ‘double whammy’ if player hits free agency originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves’ offseason is shaping up to be a pivotal one following a disastrous season that felt almost unavoidable. The team’s main focus will be shortstop. Bo Bichette has been linked to Atlanta for some time, but taking on his contract could prove to be a nightmare.
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“Speaking of shortstop alternatives, Bo Bichette is a popular name for the Braves and that is not a move Atlanta needs to make. Not only is Bichette going to be looking for a contract that may approach $200 million at 27 years old, but he is a flawed player. The guy can flat out hit for sure, but he dealt with injuries this season and his defensive shortcomings blunt the benefits of his bat. Between the cost and being a net negative on defense, signing Bichette would likely be a big mistake from an opportunity cost perspective,” HTHB’s Eric Cole wrote.
The primary target this offseason is Ha-Seong Kim. However, if he decides to test free agency, it could deal Atlanta a major setback.
“A weak free-agent market for shortstops serves as a double whammy for the Braves. This gives Kim reason to test free agency, and it obviously limits Atlanta’s fallback options if he ends up signing with another team,” Braves insider Mark Bowman wrote.
If Kim chooses to test the market and not return to Atlanta, he could put the Braves in a familiar and unfavorable position.
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“Because of this thin market, that would incentivise Kim to test the market. For that same reason, it’s even more important that the Braves find a way to retain his services,” SI’s Harrison Smajovits wrote. “If he opts out and signs elsewhere, they could be back to square one with this dilemma. The offense has had its struggles as is, and they have, at least for now, figured out one of the issues.”
In many ways, the Braves’ offseason hinges on Kim’s decision. If Atlanta can secure him to an extension early, it will prevent the potential chaos of free agency.
If Kim hits the open market, the situation could become significantly worse for the Braves. The best move would be to lock him up now and eliminate any uncertainty before it begins.
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