Center Field Options

Written by Colin on January 10, 2008 – 7:22 am

So the AJC published a blog regarding the state of the center field position this afternoon.  The article speculates that the Braves may be interested in either signing former Oriole Corey Patterson or trading for Athletics outfielder Mark Kotsay.  These options are intriguing, but don’t offer the most cost-effective way to fill the gap in center.  That said, either option provides arguably a more solid solution than plugging Josh Anderson in.  I’m just not sure it’s the best way to spend a few million dollars.

Patterson is a Georgia native, but I’ve heard that Baltimore has expressed its interest in signing him once again.  He was once looking for $6 million next season, but he may have brought his asking price down after a couple months.  Then you have to factor in that Baltimore is interested - that brings the price up some.  Patterson only batted .269 last year - higher than his career .258 average.  He hit 8 homers and batted in 45 runs.

Kotsay is a little bit of a different story.  He’s due to make $8 million next year, but the AJC’s David O’Brien maintains the Braves could get Oakland to pick up around half of that.  Now I don’t know about you, but Kotsay seems a bit risky.  Batting .214 with one homer and 20 RBIs in 56 games - even while having a rough season - is not a great year and I’d shy away from paying even $4 million to a guy who may not perform better than the option we’ve already got.

Now Josh Anderson only had 67 at-bats last year, but he batted .358.  He’s not proven as 2007 was his first year in the big leagues, but the guy has some potential and I believe can deliver for a year.  Now, you could argue that Kotsay could bounce back, or that Patterson will provide some veteran experience Anderson doesn’t have, but for the amount of money spent I don’t see us getting a better deal than Anderson.  I’d rather see us jump in the race for another starter or work on resigning Teixeira with that cash.  I have faith in Anderson to pull off a .250 season next year - about what we could hope from Kotsay or Patterson.  Anderson also can hit right-handers and left-handers about the same, batting .347 and .389, respectively.

I think we’ll see the Braves stick with what they have in Center.  I realize they have the money to go out and get someone should they need to, but I think that with the current acquisitions made during the off-season, Wren is going to stick with who he has in center field.  What I want to see is another arm or two in the bullpen that have proven records as relievers and can eat up some innings.

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Posted in Speculation |