Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki listed among top free agent bargains

March 31, 2017, Atlanta: Atlanta Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki signs autographs and poses for selfies with fans celebrating a 8-5 win over the New York Yankees in a MLB exhibition game for the soft opening of SunTrust Park on Friday, March 31, 2017, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

By Jeff Haws

May 31, 2017

Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki -- at just $1.5 million this season -- is one of the top free agent bargains in Major League Baseball this season, writes Jeff Todd in an article for MLBTradeRumors.com.

Todd notes that Suzuki’s .257/.379/.457 slash line is one of the better ones among Major League catchers this season. Suzuki’s .379 on-base percentage is sixth among all catchers (minimum 70 at-bats), and his .457 slugging percentage ranks 12th.

Some of that has been driven by a particularly solid May, in which he’s batted .324/.432/.622 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI. And he’s been even hotter in recent weeks.

Kurt Suzuki gets the start today. He's been quite good lately.

Evidence: pic.twitter.com/ArhhWOkdpX
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) May 28, 2017

Notably, one of the few catchers whose offensive numbers have been indisputably better than Suzuki’s is the Braves’ other catcher, Tyler Flowers. His .352 average and .460 on-base percentage lead all catchers, while his OPS of .927 is third among catchers with more than 70 at-bats.

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Jeff Haws