OnlyBucs

I certainly haven't heard anything about "needs" and "wants". I sure hope Rodriguez isn't considered a starter. He is a fine bench player, but not a platoon or a starter in my opinion.



With Freese and Rodriguez both being right-handed, I don't know how they would platoon. Hurdle has been using match ups better, but I still feel he uses his gut way more.



That bench would be so solid if they brought in an everyday third baseman. I still don't know the direction of the team.

515A525E5B5A410402754C545D5A5A1B565A350 wrote: I certainly haven't heard anything about "needs" and "wants".  I sure hope Rodriguez isn't considered a starter.  He is a fine bench player, but not a platoon or a starter in my opinion. 



With Freese and Rodriguez both being right-handed, I don't know how they would platoon.  Hurdle has been using match ups better, but I still feel he uses his gut way more.



That bench would be so solid if they brought in an everyday third baseman.  I still don't know the direction of the team. 
After his strong 2016, Rodriguez was signed as a FA by the Braves with the intention of being the starter at 2B. So obviously there is a school of thought that he can start and I believe the Pirates feel he'll get most of the time next year at 3B with Freese spelling him there and also spelling Bell at 1B with Jaso gone.

103D30212637206063520 wrote: I certainly haven't heard anything about "needs" and "wants".  I sure hope Rodriguez isn't considered a starter.  He is a fine bench player, but not a platoon or a starter in my opinion. 



With Freese and Rodriguez both being right-handed, I don't know how they would platoon.  Hurdle has been using match ups better, but I still feel he uses his gut way more.



That bench would be so solid if they brought in an everyday third baseman.  I still don't know the direction of the team. 
After his strong 2016, Rodriguez was signed as a FA by the Braves with the intention of being the starter at 2B. So obviously there is a school of thought that he can start and I believe the Pirates feel he'll get most of the time next year at 3B with Freese spelling him there and also spelling Bell at 1B with Jaso gone.


If S-Rod does start at third, a good outcome would be 30 homers, a 220 batting average and good defense. That is about what could be expected from Frazier although he would walk more.



I think his 2016 was a career year but maybe the Bucs have confidence he can do better (if so they should have not let him leave as a free agent). If they just have their fingers crossed that he can be valuable offensive shame on them.

Does Rodriguez's very short 2017 erase his 2016 season? Why did the Braves sign him to a two a year deal and then trade him away? The Braves still don't have a second baseman.

2D262E2227263D787E093028212626672A26490 wrote: Does Rodriguez's very short 2017 erase his 2016 season?  Why did the Braves sign him to a two a year deal and then trade him away?  The Braves still don't have a second baseman. 


yes, that is a big question for me. The Braves basically dumped his salary so they must not have expected much from him in 2018. If he repeats 2016 (or hopefully betters it) he is a huge bargain and someone any team would want to have.

6A4C4D5A4C5C2F0 wrote: Does Rodriguez's very short 2017 erase his 2016 season?  Why did the Braves sign him to a two a year deal and then trade him away?  The Braves still don't have a second baseman. 


yes, that is a big question for me.  The Braves basically dumped his salary so they must not have expected much from him in 2018.  If he repeats 2016 (or hopefully betters it) he is a huge bargain and someone any team would want to have.


. . . but i hope they're not banking on it.

He went to the Braves because they offered him a starting role and we did not. I doubt our perception of him has changed. He is seen as a utility player and not a starter. I'd love to see them trade for a young-ish starting 3B but I doubt they are willing to part with the necessary prospects to get one.

707B737F7A7B602523546D757C7B7B3A777B140 wrote: Does Rodriguez's very short 2017 erase his 2016 season?  Why did the Braves sign him to a two a year deal and then trade him away?  The Braves still don't have a second baseman. 
After he hot hurt and was expected to miss the entire year, the Braves acquired Brandon Phillips. So when Rodriguez came back he was expensive and unneeded. They also had a young Ozzie Albies in AAA who they wanted to turn 2B over to so they dealt Phillips later.

2C292E28202A332E2734323F460 wrote: He went to the Braves because they offered him a starting role and we did not.  I doubt our perception of him has changed.  He is seen as a utility player and not a starter.  I'd love to see them trade for a young-ish starting 3B but I doubt they are willing to part with the necessary prospects to get one.
I would prefer they acquire a young 3Bman but I don't think they would have taken on the salary Rodriguez signed for with Atlanta for 2 years just to make him a utility player. Barring a Kang return I expected to see Rodriguez get the bulk of the PT at 3B next year. That wouldn't be my plan but I suspect its NH's.

012C21303726317172430 wrote: He went to the Braves because they offered him a starting role and we did not.  I doubt our perception of him has changed.  He is seen as a utility player and not a starter.  I'd love to see them trade for a young-ish starting 3B but I doubt they are willing to part with the necessary prospects to get one.
I would prefer they acquire a young 3Bman but I don't think they would have taken on the salary Rodriguez signed for with Atlanta for 2 years just to make him a utility player. Barring a Kang return I expected to see Rodriguez get the bulk of the PT at 3B next year. That wouldn't be my plan but I suspect its NH's.


That may well be plan B.  Looking at what's available on the market does not give a lot of hope for significant improvement.