Braves map new outfield plans with Anderson

Matt Diaz doesn’t know if the addition of free agent Garret Anderson portends a smaller role for the Braves outfielder. But he’s confident of one thing.

“We have a better team that we had before yesterday, I truly believe,” Diaz said after the Braves agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with Anderson over the weekend. “He can really hit. We’ve got a better team, a deeper team, and from what I hear, he’s also a great guy in the locker room.”

Anderson, 36, was scheduled to fly to Florida on Monday night and could be in camp for Tuesday’s workout. The Braves have made no announcement about the acquisition, which was confirmed by two people familiar with the situation.

The left-handed hitter has a .296 career average and 272 home runs in 15 seasons in the majors, all with Los Angeles Angels in the American League.

Four days after free agent Ken Griffey Jr. picked Seattle over Atlanta, the Braves landed Anderson, a three-time All-Star who hit .293 with 15 home runs and 84 RBIs last season.

After a sluggish start, Anderson hit .337 over his final 69 games beginning July 1, posting 49 RBIs and an .871 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in that stretch.

Griffey was expected to play in a left-field platoon with Diaz. However, it’s not clear if the Braves plan to use Anderson and Diaz in a platoon or whether Anderson might also play against some lefties.

While Griffey hit .202 against lefties in 2008, Anderson hit .290 against them. In 2007, Anderson’s slugging percentage was almost as high (.490) against left-handers as against right-handers (.492).

Diaz has a .328 average and .508 slugging percentage in 478 career at-bats against lefties.

Another thing to consider: The last time Anderson played as many as 95 games in the outfield was 2005, and last season he played 82 games in left field and 59 as designated hitter.

Before the Braves acquired Anderson, team officials said they planned to take a longer look this spring at young outfielders Josh Anderson, Brandon Jones, Gregor Blanco and Jordan Schafer, all left-handed hitters, to see if they could handle center and left field.

The addition of Garret Anderson obviously changes that plan.

Josh Anderson looks like the top contender in center, particularly if the Braves prefer Schafer get more seasoning in Class AAA.

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, just got to keep going,” said Anderson, who has a .315 average in parts of two seasons with the Astros and Braves, and totaled at least 40 stolen bases in all five of his full seasons of professional baseball.

He’s the most obvious leadoff option if he’s on the team.

“I can’t worry about [signing Garrett Anderson],” he said. “I’m a different type of player. Hopefully what I do can solidify a spot.”

Blanco, who hit .259 with a .309 slugging percentage in 430 at-bats as a rookie, and Jones, who isn’t a center fielder, could face long odds of making the roster with Garret Anderson on board.

“I’m just going to go out and play, try not to think about that,” said Jones, who had 69 extra-base hits and 100 RBIs in the minors in 2007, then slipped to nine homers and 69 RBIs last season between Class AAA and the majors.