The Braves added a pair of veterans on Monday, agreeing to a one-year, $23 million deal with third baseman Josh Donaldson and a one-year deal with catcher Brian McCann.
It's McCann's second stint in Atlanta, where he spent his first nine seasons and made seven All-Star teams. Offensively, McCann is a shell of the player he used to be and will likely platoon with right-handed Tyler Flowers.
Donaldson is the much bigger deal. The 2015 MVP comes to the National League, where he'll rejoin former Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos. The Braves have never opened a season with a payroll higher than $123 million and this puts them at about $105 million, so this is a hefty sum. Atlanta is protected by it being a one-year deal, though.
The only other Brave set to make more than $12 million in 2019 is Freddie Freeman ($21.4M).
Donaldson will replace 24-year-old Johan Camargo at third base. Camargo, who may move to left field, was a revelation in 2018, hitting .272 with 19 homers, 76 RBI and an .806 OPS, improving as the season went along. Despite Camargo's strong second half, he ain't Josh Donaldson.
The addition of Donaldson gives the Braves a better 3-4 than they had last season, when it was typically Freeman followed by Nick Markakis. Markakis, a clutch left-handed hitter with much less pop than Donaldson, is now a free agent.
The only reason Donaldson went for a one-year deal this offseason was to reestablish his value after an injury-plagued season. He missed 110 games in 2018 (calf) and 49 in 2017.
MLB
When healthy, though, Donaldson is one of the better all-around third basemen in the game. He did look healthier later in the year, when he hit .280 with a .920 OPS in 16 games with the Indians.
The Phillies must make additions to keep pace with the Braves, who were clearly the superior team in 2018 and probably just made themselves better.
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