When Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman returns from the disabled list, he might be setting up shop at a new spot on the diamond.
The Atlanta Braves will be glad to have Freddie Freeman back in their lineup as soon as possible, but they could have some decisions to make when he returns. The success of Matt Adams since acquiring him from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade last month means the team will have to get a little creative in order to accommodate both players.
Adams has been playing first base in Freeman’s absence and doing a terrific job of it. In 29 games since joining Atlanta, the 28-year-old has slashed .296/.349/.635 with 10 home runs and 27 RBI. Of his 34 hits with the Braves, over half (18) have gone for extra bases. Everyone knows what Freeman is capable of, but removing Adams’ hot bat from the lineup isn’t really a serious consideration at the moment.
As a result, the club is reportedly mulling a position change to third base for one of the players as a solution. Though neither has appeared at the hot corner at the major league level, Freeman is more likely to make the switch according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. He points out that the two-time All-Star played the position in high school and also cites Freeman’s well-known team-first attitude.
Third base has been something of a revolving door for the Braves this year. Adonis Garcia has spent the most time there, but he just went down with a finger injury expected to keep him sidelined for two months. Rio Ruiz, Johan Camargo and Jace Peterson have all made their share of appearances there as well. In any case, it’s prime real estate for a new occupant.
It might seem questionable to relocate a player of Freeman’s caliber in the middle of the season, but Adams’ surprising performance has essentially forced the Braves’ hand. Manager Brian Snitker remarked that the team “can’t rule anything out,” and that includes sending the face of the franchise over to the other corner of the diamond, at least temporarily.
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Freeman was well on his way to another impressive season before breaking his wrist in May. He boasted a .341/.461/.748 line with 14 homers and 25 RBI in 37 games. The 27-year-old has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting twice, and he looked like one of the early frontrunners for the award this year until the injury derailed him.
It’s disappointing considering last season’s .302/.400/.569 showing with a career-high 34 long balls suggested Freeman is just entering his prime as one of baseball’s top-tier talents. However, he’ll still have the opportunity to come back strong and put together a great second half.
Bowman also brings up the possibility of Atlanta trading Adams, which would of course make the situation a whole lot simpler. The Braves aren’t currently much of a factor in the playoff race, and if they fade further as the deadline nears, they could look to move some of their more expendable (and high-achieving) veterans, like Brandon Phillips.
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Adams is arbitration-eligible for next season, though, so the Braves could trade him or elect to keep him aboard for 2018. The next month will probably help determine their plan. With Freeman still expected to be out for at least that long, they can afford to wait a bit. Either way, Adams’ torrid stretch can only mean good things for Atlanta, and it’s not a bad problem to have.