3B Josh Donaldson (Age 33): 8 HR, .246/.352/.449, 2 SB, 117 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR in 52 games
Contract: One year, $23 million
This contract makes perfect sense for both sides. Donaldson is an extremely productive, All Star caliber player coming off a string of borderline-MVP seasons followed by an injury-riddled disappointment of a 2018. By taking a one year contract, he can still bring in a very solid $23 million while rebuilding his value for a longer team deal after the season. From the Braves' perspective, $23 million is a lot to invest in a soon-to-be 34 year old coming off a disappointing season, but it's just a one year commitment and Donaldson could very well revert to his pre-2018 self, in which case they'd be getting a discount - and potential draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere - on a lineup anchor. In 2016, Donaldson's last healthy season, he slashed .284/.404/.549 with 37 home runs for the Blue Jays for a total of 7.6 fWAR, but that dropped slightly to .270/.385/.559 with 33 home runs and 5.1 fWAR while battling minor calf injuries in 2017. He injured his other calf in 2018 and the issue lingered all season, dropping his slash line to .246/.352/.449 as he finished with just eight home runs and 1.3 fWAR in 52 games. While the numbers aren't close to his usual standards, they aren't bad either; a .352 on-base percentage with a .449 slugging percentage still makes for a well-above-average hitter, and that's a hitter who was being dragged down by nagging injuries. A healthy Donaldson is still an All Star, and if he can't stay healthy, the Braves are not committed to him past 2019. For his career, the Auburn alum has 182 home runs, a .275/.367/.507 slash line, and 36.5 fWAR over 883 games since 2010.
C Brian McCann (Age 34): 7 HR, .212/.301/.339, 0 SB, 82 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR in 63 games
Contract: One year, $2 million
McCann is clearly a much smaller-scale addition, but for just $2 million, he has the opportunity to help the Braves by providing depth behind the plate as well as veteran leadership. A native of Duluth, Georgia, less than 25 miles from SunTrust Park and just ten miles from the Braves' AAA affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers, it's a homecoming for the former Brave in more ways than one. He was one of the best catchers in baseball during his time in Atlanta, accumulating 28.3 fWAR from 2005-2013 as a Brave. His bat has regressed as he has gotten older, and now he's a mediocre hitter with a pretty decent glove, and right now it looks like he'll split catching duties with fellow Atlanta-area native Tyler Flowers. Still, I see catcher as an area of need for the Braves and I don't think McCann fills it entirely. Neither Flowers nor McCann are starting-quality catchers for a playoff-hopeful team like the Braves, with McCann slashing .212/.301/.339 in 2018 and Flowers not much better at .227/.341/.359. On the other hand, it is cool to see an all-Atlanta born catching corps. For his career, McCann has 270 home runs, a .263/.338/.454 slash line, and 36.9 fWAR over 1670 games since 2005.
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