LAKELAND, Fla. – Freddie Freeman is unlikely to play all 162 games against like he did last season, but the All-Star first baseman won’t be out of the lineup enough to warrant the Braves carrying a backup who doesn’t play several positions.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez was asked about that Thursday after posting a lineup with veteran catcher John Buck at first base against the Tigers in the second game of the Grapefruit League schedule.
Gonzalez doesn’t intend to carry a third catcher behind Christian Bethancourt and A.J. Pierzsynki. He said third baseman Chris Johnson would be the primary backup at first base, as was the plan the past two seasons.
The Braves will have at least a couple of options to fill in at third base when Johnson moves to first, which Gonzalez indicated would happen at least a few times this season. He would like to give Freeman a day off now and then against a particularly tough left-handed pitcher.
“Chris Johnson will be that guy, and you’re going to see him play some first base in spring training,” Gonzalez said. “He took some ground balls there the last couple of years, and ended up moving over there in that one game (last season) where Freddie got thrown out. I’m not going to carry a guy (just to) be a backup (to Freeman).”
Buck, 34, signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training despite being no obvious fit on the roster. He signed after getting assurances from Gonzalez that Buck would get some starts at first base in spring training, which might help him later land a job with another big-league team if there’s no room with the Braves.
The 6-foot-3 catcher hadn’t played another position in a game before playing three innings at first base last season with Seattle. Buck made two errors Thursday, booting a ground ball and missing a pickoff throw, but he also had two walks and a two-run double in three plate appearances.
Johnson only played first base in one game last season. That’s because Freeman started every game and played all but six innings the entire season, leading the majors with a franchise-record 1,449 innings played. Johnson has 14 career starts at first base including 10 during the 2013 season when Freeman was hurt.
“CJ can do it,” Gonzalez said. “And depending on the makeup of the club, Kelly Johnson is a guy who can do it, too. But he’s (another left-handed) hitter, so if you want to give Freeman a day off against a tough left-hander you don’t want to run Kelly Johnson in there. You could run CJ in there and utilize him that way.”
If Kelly Johnson makes the team as a utility player, he would be a primary option to fill in for Freeman if the first baseman was injured and out of the lineup for more than a game or two. Kelly Johnson has 29 starts at first base including 27 last season with the Yankees and Red Sox.
Veteran infielder Alberto Callaspo is primarily a second base and third baseman, but also played some in the corner-outfield positions and made 17 starts at first base last season with the Athletics, despite being just 5 foot 9.
“Yeah, if (Freeman) was hurt Kelly Johnson could fill in if he’s on the team,” Gonzalez said. “I think he’s done it more than CJ, at least at the major league level. But as far as just a strict backup to Freeman, no. If I give him a day off against a tough left-hander, I’ll run CJ in there.”
