Atlanta Braves: Outfield sluggers you'd pick

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves: Outfield sluggers you'd pick

AJC beat writer David O'Brien assesses MLB outfielders who could help the Atlanta Braves in 2009. Photos.

DAVID DeJESUS, Royals - "David DeJesus' development (or lack of) has been a disappointment for the Royals similar to Francoeur with the Braves. They're making similar salaries and putting up similar numbers, including a .242 average and .678 OPS for DeJesus, with three homers and 18 RBI in 42 games, with three times as many strikeouts (30) than walks (10)." -- David O'Brien

RYAN LUDWICK, Cardinals - "Ludwick's .877 OPS, eight homers and 26 RBI would sure look good. He's not hitting yet like he did last year (40 doubles, 37 homers, 113 RBI, .966 OPS), and he's on the DL (staying healthy was the big knock against him in trade discussions), but Ludwick would be far and away the best hitter in the Braves OF. But again, I don't think the Cardinals want to trade him." -- David O'Brien

MATT HOLLIDAY, Athletics - "We can only imagine what [other teams are] asking this early in the season for the likes of, say, outfielder Matt Holliday. Holliday's got six homers, 16 RBI and an .844 OPS in his past 24 games, after hitting no homers with 11 RBI and a .622 OPS in his first 17 games for the A's." -- David O'Brien

MAGGLIO ORDONEZ, Tigers - "If Detroit (and this seems unlikely to me, but just giving examples) decides that Magglio Ordonez's remaining contract needs to be shed and the Braves decide he's ready to turn things around this season and be something like the Magglio of old and ... hey, I said it was unlikely." -- David O'Brien

JOSE GUILLEN, Royals - "Jose Guillen's only got three homers and 20 RBI for the Royals, but he's hitting .291 with an .827 OPS and more walks (17) than strikeouts (14), far improved in the walks category over his past futility in that area. Yes, that's an upgrade. But at what price? Guillen is making - gulp - $12 million annually in a deal that runs through 2010." -- David O'Brien

RICK ANKIEL, Cardinals - "Perhaps the Braves would consider Rick Ankiel, [but a] potential problem with Ankiel, however, is that he had just two homers, 11 RBI and a .723 OPS in 25 games (96 at-bats) before he crashed into that outfield wall and landed on the DL. But this is a guy who had an .843 OPS and 25 homers in 120 games in 2008 in his first full season as an outfielder." -- David O'Brien

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DAVID DeJESUS, Royals - "David DeJesus' development (or lack of) has been a disappointment for the Royals similar to Francoeur with the Braves. They're making similar salaries and putting up similar numbers, including a .242 average and .678 OPS for DeJesus, with three homers and 18 RBI in 42 games, with three times as many strikeouts (30) than walks (10)." -- David O'Brien

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