Braves skipper Brian Snitker says the organization expects to install veteran Jose Bautista as the regular at third base once he’s brought up to the majors, Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Bautista signed a minors deal recently after sitting out Spring Training, so he’s still getting up to full speed.
At the moment, Bautista is playing at Triple-A after logging a few games down at the High-A level. Snitker says that he’s told Bautista is “close,” so it may not be long before we get a look at the veteran at the game’s highest level. Indeed, last we heard, the expectation was that the former Blue Jay would be playing in the majors by early May at the latest.
The decision to use Bautista in a starting capacity will bump Ryan Flaherty into a platoon role. He’ll surely get some opportunities to spell Bautista against righties, and perhaps will receive some time up the middle, but the news certainly will put a big dent in Flaherty’s playing time. The 31-year-old has been among the pleasant surprises in Atlanta; he’s carrying a .362/.471/.500 slash through seventy plate appearances.
Last year, under different front-office leadership, the Braves attempted an even more novel maneuver at third by slotting Freddie Freeman there after he returned from a lengthy DL stint. That experiment didn’t last long. In this case, though, new GM Alex Anthopoulos says that he has long believed Bautista can handle the hot corner. And Snitker says there are “nothing but good reports” streaming in at the moment.
There are obviously some questions about how Bautista will perform at 37 years of age, coming off of a season in which he hit just .203/.308/.366 while playing his accustomed corner outfield. But there’s upside aplenty here for the Braves and relatively little to lose by trying. Bautista is not far removed from being one of the game’s preeminent hitters and could be quite a valuable asset if he can bounce back at the plate and deliver even palatable glovework at third.
This is stupid. We are giving a guy who has been on a decline a chance to start over someone who is hitting .364.
Flash can play all over the diamond. You can plug him in the corners in the outfield and he can spell Swanson and albies up the middle. If the Braves are willing they should be easily able to give him 4-5 starts. Nothing in flahertys profile would suggest this is real but he’s never been given consistent PT either.
Woooo bring em up
Because at age 32 it comes with an all time career high BABIP of .444 which basically blows his career trends out of the water. Basically they see it at highly unsustainable. And they might be trying to gain an interesting trade piece for the deadline.
Stupid is thinking a poor hitter like Flaherty can stay above .220.
But why bench him while he’s red hot, why not wait until he cools down?
It’s still going to be a few days and as long as he stays hot, he’ll spell others and still play most days. Realistically, the team needs to be ready for when not if Flaherty slows down. For a team like the Braves that can’t afford to eat a big contract that goes south, Bautista to them has upside potential. If he has a come back season, they can flip him in July if the team is not in a post season race. If he sucks, they cut him.
Because as baseball trends you’re hot until you’re not. Plus you figure with his versatility he could bounce around the diamond.
Because it’s going to take 5 or 6 games to demonstrate that he is no longer red hot. He’s going to go 2 or 3 for 24 and maybe cost a game or two and THEN you will suddenly be just fine with Bautista
We?
Go away
I know right? Why does someone really have to get upset because someone says we
We don’t have to
Yes, we. As in the fan base that pays money for tickets and help financially support the franchise.
Can’t wait for that first rope down the third base line to see Joey Bats’ reaction time.
He used to be an everyday third basemen until he after he came to Toronto.
Yes…9 years ago
As of today this is really dumb. Are current situations is playing way above expectations and leading the league in avg? If not leading really high up there. I know he won’t maintain, and that’s when I’m ok putting Jose at 3rd… but as of today, this makes no sense.
Flaherty is almost 32 years old and has a long history as a terrible hitter and marginal big leaguer. I don’t think it’s unreasonable at all for the team to be planning for him cooling off. As the season goes along, he will be better utilized off the bench and to spell Bautista.
And remember, all of this is just keeping the seat warm for Austin Riley. Neither of these guys are in the long term plans, so in the end all that matters is they eek out some value today and move on. Riley will be there by the end of the year.
It’s interesting that you make reference to his older age in a conversation about replacing him with a 37-year old.
Is it that interesting? I was obviously trying to point out that it’s not like he’s some young player that hasn’t gotten his shot. He’s got a long track record as a bad hitter, so it’s reasonable for the team to line up a potential backup plan for when he cools off.
Yeti mentions Flaherty‘s age to make a point that throughout the course of his career, he has never been a productive hitter. Age has nothing to do with Yeti’s point, simply that he has not put up offensive numbers in his 7 year ML career.
He’s also never been given consistent starting playing time.
I agree with the backup plan but when your back-up plan is a 37 year old whose Batting average last year was like 203 I think… but hey who knows maybe he will get like a 7th wind lol
So your better idea is to replace him with an even older player who hit 202 last year ? Ok! Sounds right !
Because it’s going to take 5 or 6 games to demonstrate that he is no longer red hot. He’s going to go 2 or 3 for 24 and maybe cost a game or two and THEN you will suddenly be just fine with Bautista
You’re playing poker with Flaherty. Maybe he’ll keep hitting lucky for a while longer and maybe he won’t. Guessing when the gravy train ends is not an issue of skill but of luck. So why not take the winnings you have taken and leave the craps table. You remind me of someone who Gamble’s just a little to lon and looses more than they gain.
As of today, Bautista is still in the minors, so your whining is dumb.
Nobody know what the future holds & Bautista has more than proven he has the capability to see the ball better than most batters & hit for better than average more than not. He had one bad season…..the entire team had a bad season! He has had plenty of GREAT seasons & anyone will tell you he is one of the hardest training players out there.
He isn’t an outfielder anymore. Third might be a stretch. First…I’d give him a chance. But he will give you one hell if an at bat 100% of the time, he will play any position you ask & give 100% when he’s there & he is an amazing chip for rookies on your bench. Always willing to offer help or a teachable moment.
I would take him back as our DH over the tub of flubber Morales any day of the week.
I am looking forward to his call-up. Jose is one of my favorite hitters.
Was a really good hitter, but am thinking his glove at 3b at this time might just be as awful as was Mikey Lowell’s after labrum surgery on both hips at the end of his career.
BTW.. ur username here is the funniest think have ever seen. Hilarious.
This is definitely going to make Ryan Flaherty season take a turn for the worse. If Jose Bautista is so good why did he just sign
If Flaherty was so good then why did he sign with the team on March 26 for $750k? That argument doesn’t hold up.
Flash is a utility infielder playing over his head but Joey Bats is a washed up RF who hasn’t shown anything the last 2 years. Flash has probably earned enough to play until he’s cold. Hopefully they work him into the lineup because he can play every defensive position except catcher and ideally not CF.
Flaherty is a player with a questionable track record. He’s not a prospect, and he’s not a part of their future. So why wouldn’t you play Bautista, who has a much better track record and upside than Flaherty? I don’t see why Braves fans would be upset about a seemingly good move like this.
Bautista is 2 years removed from showing any of that “higher upside” He’s 37 years old and isn’t a 3B either. Until Flaherty cools down taking him out of the lineup for another non prospect like Bautista isn’t going to help. Like I said though,Flash is a utility infielder. There’s plenty of ways to get him ABS even with Joey Bats at 3rd most days.
Bautista is 3 years removed from blowing out his shoulder trying to toss Delmon Young at 1B on a base hit to RF in a blowout game. He used to have a rifle at 3B whenever he’d play there (usually when Brett Lawrie would make his trips to the DL).
I don’t like Joey Batflip. I think he’s an over the hill has been. From what I’ve read, most players don’t like him, even players who were on his team. The glee across baseball by the players after Odor owned him was illuminating.
So Bautista is now part of a teams future? LoL
As a a diehard Toronto fan.. Bautista is one the best guys you could have in ur dugout! Telling you pep!
As long as he stays in the dugout.
I don’t like this plan. Ryan has played well so far. If he tanks, then replace him. Don’t pull him while he’s hitting.
AA is continuing his crush on players he used to have on his teams. The only upside is if Jose “Glass Jaw” Bautista gets hot and they trade him before the deadline.
I didn’t see Bautista fall after the punch. Glass Jaw would not apply here.
Right. You want to wait until Flaherty has been hitting a buck fifty. Problem is by then he will have cost as much or more than he gained us.
And glass jaw? Did you even watch how much that sucker punch DIDN’T affect him?
He was out on his feet. He almost had to be held up. If Odor had hit him again he’d have crumpled. He certainly wasn’t going to be taking any swings.
And it wasn’t a sucker punch. If he didn’t see it coming, he should have.
Braves fan here, I like the move. At first I was a little skeptical, but after thinking on it, I definitely came around to it. Flaherty has played phenomenally this season, but let’s be honest, what are the chances of his offensive success lasting all season?
It’s clear that Bautista was not good last season, but even at 37 years old, he still has potential to have a decent year at the plate. The Braves have a need for power in the lineup (Albies and Suzuki should not be relied upon for consistent power numbers), and Bautista has the potential to bring some much needed pop. Worst case scenario, it’s a flop, and he struggles. Then, he gets cut and Camargo and Flaherty take over again. Best case, he has a comeback season and sends 25 HR’s out of the park on a cheap $1mil contract. This is really not something for people to be worked up about. He’s not blocking a prospect, Riley won’t be up until September at the earliest. It’ll be fun to watch Bautista in a Braves uni.
I don’t know if he can bounce back, but it’s definitely a worth while experiment for the Braves. People act like his last good season was 2012. He was still a middle of the order bat in 2016. He’s had one bad, borderline awful season, but that shouldn’t have people writing him off like he’s guaranteed to be terrible.
My thoughts exactly. It’s one of those things where the team can ask “what do we really have to lose?”
i like this experiment. we can’t just sit back and be content with the players we have that are probably overachieving. and this will make our bench that much better later in the year.
Whats the move with Camarago? Send him down to get more at bats, or DFA Culberson? I also wonder what the clubhouse vibe is like. Seems like everyone loves Camargo and I can imagine Mr. Bats not going over as well…
Sure, what’s the worst that could happen? Right?
Burgers and fries for everyone.
It’s all a waste of time. Flaherty is nothing more than a utility fielder. Even those guys have an occasional hot streak. Bautista was a poor 3B when they moved him to the OF years ago. Suddenly, at age 37, to expect him to be the answer is asinine. Even if he does provide some offense, no team is going to trade for him, because they all know its an illusion.
I seriously doubt that any other team would envision him as a thirdbaseman, but perhaps an AL team would as a DH or outfielder combination.
I don’t see him getting dealt though. If he is successful enough to be desirable then it is likely that the Braves are doing decent themselves (and less desirous to deal him away).
even if he does alittle nobody wants him, why hes still there. hes a jerk
Bautista is on my short list of players that I don’t like, but as a Braves fan in my sixth decade I’ve got to wish him success now. Hopefully Bautista will rebound after a horrible season in 2017.
I’ve admittedly been very critical about his defense (and believe Bautista belongs only at DH), but I’ve got to hope that he’ll be able to field the position well enough not to outweigh his contributions with the bat (if he makes any).
If he’s going to be on the team you have to hope for a .250/.350/.500 type line.
One thing I noticed about Bautista when he was at the top of his game is that he regularly went with the pitch and didn’t try to pull everything. As long as he can return to that approach the Braves may be onto something.
Going with the pitch requires great hand eye coordination and good reflexes. As you get older, those diminish. It’s not like he forgot, it’s just that he can’t catch up to the ball anymore if he waits to recognize the pitch like he used to. That’s why as they get older, players try to guess more and therefore start pulling more pitches when they do guess right.
Any who thinks Bautista can play outfield with any success is delusional. That doesn’t mean his career is over. So he had one season that was below his typical average. It was an average season for other players & lets face it….the entire team sucked last year & he had zero protection on either side.
Bautista will make some team a great DH & may even be a good corner infielder. He sees the ball at the plate better than 80% of the batters in the league & gets on base on way or the other.
Just because people have personal feelings towards him, doesn’t mean he can’t play & help your team.
Two funny things I’ve noticed:
A career backup infielder has his own nickname
Wasn’t Bautista himself a career backup/utility guy who broke out in his 30’s?
He broke out when he was 29, which was a little late
leaveing baltimore has that effect. poor hitting instructors
Camargo at 3rd?!?! Why is he no longer an option? Everyone on here arguing Flaherty vs. Bautista but Carmago upside is way better…
Orrrrr…there’s this guy, not sure if you’ve heard of him?, by the name Ronald Acuna. Braves should call him up, he seems ok
He’s not hitting in AAA. Let him earn his way up. Once he starts going in AAA then you call him up. No need to rush him onto the roster when Preston Tucker and Ryan Flaherty are surprisingly playing pretty well.
Simple question…are the Braves better with Acuna in the lineup?
No need to rush him to the bigs now when the Braves aren’t competing. Let him demolish in AAA, and then bring him up.
He’s hitting now.
He has 2 XBH in 65 abs. He’s not knocking the door down right now….
He’s been knocking on the door all last year, he was the best hitter the Braves had during spring training….the door is gone and the dumb extra 9 days in the minors procedural move has passed. Bring him up! Nothing left to prove
This has positive potential written all over it. Joey Bats will be a lightning rod for this team and with the addition of Acuna, could get this team to the Wild Card.
Listen guys, its about getting Freddies bat back in the line up. Right now teams choose to pitch to him because there is no real reason to pitch to him.
Who do u put behind Freddie?…
… u put kemp behind him, or Suzuki, or ( please God NO!!) Harper behind him.
We have nobody until Acuna rises as a threat.
Leading the league in average is righteous IF u do it middle of the season beyond. “Flash” doesn’t prevent an opposing team from deciding on Freeman. Joey one punch does carry that name as well as that threat.
Do we want to get to the big game or not?
… ok, great! Then let’s get our star players bat into the game.
Joey Bats is going to platoon with Flash, he will start vs lefties and Flash vs righties. So Flaherty will probably get most of the starts, plus he can also spell Freeman at 1st when he needs a break. It sucks for Camargo, but he can split time with Swanson and Albies. I’m guessing this will be the end for Culberson?
YES, discount swansby will get the cut. It seems like bye forever but it’s just till the first injury happens. (Going by stats, not want.)
Thats all it really is, putting up the best line up possible everyday without killing ur players.
… unless that player is Rizzo, man that poor guy.
If I’m not mistaken isn’t the current Braves GM also the former GM of Toronto? I think it is and if I’m right (too lazy to google) wouldn’t it make sense he might know something about Bautista the rest of us don’t. Somebody has to teach the young players in ATL how to be professionals and from what everybody says about Jose is that he’s a great clubhouse man. I think Alex is just kicking the tires to see what’s left. What is the downside?Everyone knows Flaherty isn’t going to continue hitting anywhere near .362.
Bautista’s defense is going to be the worst in the league at 3rd base..won’t even be close imo
Publicity stunt.
bats has stunk last 2 years good track record lol. you all will regret this move. as soon you start moveing flaherty arround he will loose his bat. ive watched him his whole carear hes only needed to shorten his swing and stable position to be successful wich i see he has, watch once you start moveing him arround the swing will get long again and downhill he will go. baltimore also has very bad hitting instructors was glad see flash go get proper instruction
How did Bautista stink in 2016?
Any Braves fan who likes this move will probably dislike it once they see Bautista play and put up similar numbers to last year lol
I won’t care when Freddie becomes mvp because of this move.
I believe in chemistry, and I think Joey Batflip is bad for chemistry. I hope I’m wrong.