As we enter the heart of the MLB offseason, the Braves face the same question as they have the past two years: What is the role of Johan Camargo on this team?
Austin Riley seems to have a solid grasp on the starting third base job, and that leaves Camargo without a role besides backup or utility. Usually he would be a good option off the bench, but he's in a tricky situation contract-wise.
The Braves, along with the rest of baseball, are staring down the non-tender deadline today and they have to decide what the future is for Camargo.
If the Braves non-tender Camargo he will become a free agent. But if they do, they will either need to come to an agreement on a deal for this year or face arbitration to decide his contract.
MLB Trade Rumors has estimated that for a 162-game season Camargo's arbitration number would be $2.3 Million.
Is a utility bench player worth that much? That's the question the Braves are facing.
Certainly they could get Camargo to agree to a lesser deal, but it's a risk if they can't. And what does Camargo want? Is he desperate to find a bigger role, a starting job, somewhere else in baseball?
I think we can all agree that Camargo has the tools to be a starting third basemen and hasn't had the opportunity. If his bat were a little more consistent maybe this would be an easier decision for Atlanta, but he hasn't shown that enough.
Camargo isn't the only player being discussed as to whether to tender or not. In total, eight Braves are arbitration eligible. But it's Camargo that likely requires the most debate.
The eight Braves who are arbitration eligible are Dansby Swanson, Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Adam Duvall, A.J. Minter, Grant Dayton, Luke Jackson, and the previously mentioned Camargo.
It will be interesting to see how Alex Anthopoulos decides to handle Camargo and where his future goes from here.