What the Signing of Adam Duvall Means for Jarred Kelenic and the Braves Roster
The Atlanta Braves made some waves this afternoon, announcing that they had brought back old friend Adam Duvall on a one-year deal for the 2024 season.
And the addition of the 35-year-old Duvall has wide-ranging ramifications for the existing roster, both from a playtime and roster construction standpoint.
Jarred Kelenic's now in a platoon
Per early reporting from the Braves beat in North Port, Jarred Kelenic has been told he'll be platooning with Duvall this season.
Kelenic, who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the first of a dizzying series of trades this offseason, was initially projected to be an everyday starter. But it's likely that a combination of his struggles at the plate this spring as he's adjusting to mechanical changes given to him by hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and a desire to not have him feel the pressure of playing every day as he adjusts led to this signing.
Mechanical changes aside, it's hard to ignore Kelenic's results at the plate this spring - 3-34 (all singles) with four walks and nine strikeouts. Adding someone else to carry the load in the outfield can help Kelenic not get caught up in the grind of playing every day if he's in a slump.
The backups were inexperienced
But I think this is more about the need to have another major league veteran on the roster should something happen to one of your existing outfielders. Both Kelenic (foot) and centerfielder Michael Harris II (back) missed time last season, and rightfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. missed two weeks of spring training with irritation in his right knee.
And at the moment, the other options for everyday playtime on the roster were woefully short on experience.
Of Atlanta's four remaining full-time outfielders remaining in camp, all of them together have less Major League experience than Duvall:
| Age | Career Games | Plate Appearances | |
|---|---|---|---|
Forrest Wall | 28 | 15 | 15 |
J.P. Martínez | 27 | 17 | 44 |
Eli White | 30 | 136 | 406 |
Jordan Luplow | 30 | 361 | 1060 |
Adam Duvall | 35 | 922 | 3393 |
And so it's likely that Duvall's signing means that Forrest Wall, who was raking in Grapefruit League and expected to secure the 4th outfielder job, starts the season in AAA Gwinnett.
(It's also likely that one of the veterans, either Luplow or White, has a release date clause in their contract that allows them to elect free agency if they don't make the major league roster by the end of spring.)
This is a team that's solidly in the middle of a contention window
This team has questions after 2024, with free-agent decisions potentially resulting in a small step back for Atlanta. For pitching, both Max Fried and Charlie Morton are free agents, with the 40-year-old Morton choosing to retire a very real possibility. For position players, both designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and backup catcher Travis d'Arnaud are free agents, albeit both with club options that can be exercised.
But for 2024, this team has loaded up on postseason starters and top position player talent, with expectations to match. Multiple Braves players have discussed a trip to the World Series as the expectation for this season, and so the pressure is on.
And so Alex Anthopoulos, in true AA form, was able to go and find a relative bargain as we start getting towards the end of spring training, using Atlanta's extra 40-man space and the dollars he's put aside for improvements.
It's a smart and low-stakes move that adds veteran experience to a roster that's trying to win this season.