If and when the MLB lockout ends, the Atlanta Braves have a pivotal decision to make on franchise first baseman Freddie Freeman: do they pay the homegrown star top dollar or opt for a cheaper alternative? A trade for Oakland Athletics’ first baseman Matt Olson has been frequently mentioned as something the team may pursue if they don’t re-sign Freeman.
Keeping Freeman is the best-case scenario for the World Series champions. The next best scenario? It’s not trading for Olson: it’s signing free agent first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Here’s why the Braves should pivot to Rizzo instead of Olson if Freddie Freeman walks.
Anthony Rizzo still keeps the Atlanta Braves in contention
Yes, Rizzo has slumped a bit over the last two years, but he’s still one of the smoother first basemen in the sport. He’s a vacuum at the corner infield position, works the count and has considerable pop from the left side. Rizzo is accustomed to postseason play and being a linchpin for an MLB offense.
Furthermore, Rizzo would replace Freeman’s presence as a left-handed hitter in a right-handed heavy lineup. The former has found success hitting in both the top and middle part of an MLB order. Rizzo would do damage in either role with the Braves.
Rizzo joins a superb defensive infield which includes Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Dansby Swanson. Rizzo is an optimum replacement for Freeman from a defensive standpoint, especially since he provides a veteran presence for an overall young infield — albeit they’re proven and reliable players themselves. He’s also the same age as Freeman, 32.
- Anthony Rizzo stats (2021): .248/.344/.440, 22 home runs and 61 RBIs across 496 at-bats
The Braves are still an MLB contender with Rizzo. They have a sturdy infield, a highly productive outfield and a young, continually improving pitching staff from top to bottom. Such outfield positivity comes from Ronald Acuna Jr. playing at some point next season, Marcell Ozuna’s return and the potential for Cristian Pache to become an everyday player.
Despite not even knowing who their first baseman will be next season, the Braves are a well-rounded, fundamentally sound team.
Matt Olson trade tears into Atlanta Braves’ organizational depth
Olson is one of MLB’s premier first basemen and just 27 years old. He flat-out rakes, slugs at a high level and plays his position well. Know what that means? The A’s will raid a team for his services in a trade.
If the Braves truly want Olson, the A’s are going to have leverage in trade talks given Freeman’s hypothetical departure and therefore be able to get a handful of highly touted young players from the Braves, as they have a loaded farm system. That could mean the Braves have to make an offer along the lines of Drew Waters, Kyle Muller and a couple of mid-tier prospects. Is that really worth it for the Braves?
This is a team with homegrown players holding down starting roles across the board. It’s why the Braves have made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons and just won it all. They can continue to find and develop position players.
- Matt Olson stats (2021): .271/.371/.540, 39 home runs and 111 RBIs across 565 at-bats
Maybe Pache posts an .800 OPS with consistent playing time? Could Waters be the next big thing for the organization? Perhaps Swanson makes a jump to stardom? Some of these possibilities are eliminated by trading a king’s ransom for Olson.
The Braves would lose Freeman because of money. Take a wild guess what happens in two years? Olson hits the open market and will command a top-level salary. In other words, the Braves would surrender blue-chip prospects for two years of Olson and then have to pay him a contract they didn’t want to give Freeman in the first place. It doesn’t add up.
Anthony Rizzo is a more prudent option than Matt Olson for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta literally just won the World Series. Obviously, any championship team sets out to defend its title. At the same time, the urgency to win is gone. Objectively speaking, their goal is to put themselves in position to be a perennial contender and everything else is an added bonus. Signing Rizzo keeps them in that mix while they get better in other areas.
Concerning Atlanta’s competition, the National League East will be better in 2022 because, well, how could it be any worse than it was last season? The New York Mets have signed Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar this season. After being sellers at last season’s MLB trade deadline, the Miami Marlins have improved their offense, adding Jacob Stallings, Avisail Garcia and Joey Wendle. The Philadelphia Phillies are, at the very least, a competitive team.
At the end of the day, though, the NL East isn’t improved enough to the point where the Braves aren’t the favorite to win the division or at least finish second. They don’t need to make a panic move. Had they not won the World Series, maybe they make a bold move for someone like Olson. They do not find themselves in that situation.
Signing Anthony Rizzo is the prudent play for the Atlanta Braves.