Atlanta Braves left fielder (and sometimes designated hitter) Eddie Rosario has been on a tear as of late. MLB’s NL Player of the Week a couple of weeks ago, it seems the Eddie who Braves fans have grown to love has returned after a streaky start to the year and an injury-riddled 2022.
For the entire month of August, Rosario was on fire, slashing .312/.384/.558. Although he becomes a free agent in 2025, the Braves, known for making team-friendly contracts, can choose to option his contract in 2024.
Here are a couple of reasons why Eddie Rosario should remain with the Atlanta Braves
- Offensive production: The 2023 Atlanta Braves have plenty of power behind the plate. There are currently seven players on the Atlanta roster who have hit 20 or more home runs. Rosario is one of those players. Having hit number 20, along with his aforementioned August stats, his offensive production comes as no surprise. He was a member of the 2019 Twins team and contributed to their single-season home run record with 32 home runs. Rosario hitting lefty also helps, considering his numbers against right-handed pitchers. Compared to last year, he is an entirely different player.
- The left field market: 2024 is an interesting year for free agents who are left fielders. Among Rosario, veteran AJ Pollock, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and familiar face Joc Pederson are also free agents, among others. When looking at the playing quality of these players, would any be better than Rosario? Take the aforementioned Gurriel Jr. Gurriel, in 2023, has recorded more singles, doubles, and RBI than Rosario (so far), but that could be explained by his appearing at the plate more. Rosario, on the other hand, has a better OPS, batting average, and OBP. This class of left field is playing at the same level as Rosario, so why invest in a new player when offensive production would be the same?
- A concern: There is, however, cause for concern when it comes to defensive play. When comparing teammate (and fellow left fielder) Kevin Pillar’s 2023 0.1 dWAR (defensive wins above replacement) to Rosario’s -0.6 dWAR. This is a legitimate concern, as when it comes to the left field platoon, it is generally seen as one of Atlanta’s weaker positions. Making impressive plays (such as this one against the Mets) is one thing, but remaining consistent is another.
- Fan Favorite: There is no doubt that Rosario is loved by Braves fans. His legendary playoff performance in 2021, specifically in the NLCS, made him somewhat of a legend, despite only playing for a little more than two seasons. Chants of “Eddie, Eddie, Eddie” echo through Truist (and sometimes opposing team’s stadiums) every time he comes in clutch at the plate or makes a fantastic catch. Sentimentality does not play a role in contract negotiations (e.g,. Joc Pederson and Jorge Soler leaving after the World Series run), though in Rosario’s case, combined with the way he’s been playing recently, perhaps an exception could be made.