Atlanta Braves: Time to sign Tyler Flowers to extension
The Atlanta Braves managed to avoid the sweep Sunday afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds due in part to Tyler Flowers bases clearing grand slam in the fifth.
After failing to win yet another series in this second half collapse, the Braves are beginning to find positives in their players of the future. But, does this future include Flowers behind the plate? He has a $4 million team option for 2018, but is not guaranteed anything beyond that point.
At 31 years of age, Flowers has managed to continually improve as a catcher, and has become a valuable piece of this Atlanta rebuild. While Flowers splits his time with Kurt Suzuki his numbers speak for themselves.
This season alone in 263 at bats he is averaging .293 at the plate with 10 home runs, 39 RBI and a .384 OBP. Prior to Sunday afternoon’s showcase in which he drove in four he has been a key asset for Brian Snitker and the front office since arriving in Atlanta.
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Since the departure of Brian McCann during the offseason, the Braves have never truly filled the void at the catching position, and while Flowers is no McCann, he certainly has the bat and skills to be the Braves catcher moving forward.
This Braves organization has made its intentions clear that they intend to stick to this rebuild, and with it bring the cream of the crop to the major league level within the next few seasons, but why not sign Flowers to an extension?
To be quite frank, Suzuki is in the final years of his career just like Brandon Phillips and Matt Kemp. All three of these guys have come into this organization and have contributed like the veterans that they are.
When it comes time for Suzuki to hang it up for good the best option for the Braves without breaking the bank is Flowers. By signing Flowers you not only show him that you appreciate his efforts to get better, but also that he is the catching solution until the prospects behind the dish start arriving, if not longer.
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The infield heading into 2018 is as good as finalized with Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson and Johan Camargo or Brandon Phillips at third.
The Braves are so close to being back at the level of playoff contention that trading or letting Flowers walk seems unfathomable. Flowers is not going to be seeking a huge sum of money and he could be used as a starting option next season and a solid backup for when Alex Jackson or Brett Cumberland makes it to the bigs.