With the departures of Justin Upton and Evan Gattis, throughout the winter it was unclear to Atlanta fans who would assume the starting Left Field role for the Braves. The Braves filled this void with the signing of Jonny Gomes on January 30th. Gomes was signed to a one-year deal worth $5 million. Though he is coming off an off year in which he spent time with both the Red Sox and Athletics, Gomes, like Pierzynski, is an established veteran who adds a lot of pop to a lineup that lacks much power. If Zoilo Almonte makes the big league club, look to watch a platoon situation likely unfold with Gomes hitting against lefties and Almonte handling righties. While Gomes hit a respectable .276 average against lefties last year, he struggled to a .165 average against righties. I still expect Gomes to get the majority of starts as he looks to bounce back from last season. If he can return to his 2013 form then this will work out to be a great signing for Atlanta. I think Gomes is also a good signing beyond the stats sheet as he is a great clubhouse guy. This Atlanta roster has seen a lot of turnover and there are a ton of new faces. We all remember how the 2013 Red Sox all rallied around Gomes, grew out their beards and won the World Series. While Gomes will be required to keep his beard trimmed in Atlanta, expect him to play a similar role in the clubhouse. He will be the first to tell you that this club will compete this year, and that he doesn’t buy all the rebuilding talk. Gomes is a scrappy player that will likely become a fan favorite this season in Atlanta. He is not particularly having a great Spring Training on paper, but I expect him to bounce back and play a big role in Atlanta’s outfield. I think this was a good short term deal by John Hart to try to keep the club competitive this year while they clearly eye the future.
Grade: B-
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