Free agent third baseman Maikel Franco is likely to choose his next club either today or tomorrow, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. The former Phillies and Royals slugger has been connected to both the Mets and the Orioles over the past week, and Heyman now adds that the Braves are among the teams “in the mix” for Franco.
While Franco has been connected to three clubs over the past week now, there have been indicators that not every rumored club is a serious player for his services. The Athletic’s Tim Britton reported that although the Mets indeed checked in on Franco at one point, they also don’t believe a deal will come together at this time. Meanwhile, in the days since the Orioles were first tied to Franco, Baltimore general manager Mike Elias has publicly stated that he does not foresee any free-agent additions for his team (link via MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko).
“I don’t feel that there are any imminent additions at this time coming from the free agent market.” Elias said as recently as Wednesday. “That could change, but I don’t see anything kind of barreling down the pike here right this second.” Certainly, that doesn’t rule out the possibility that Franco could land there, but it does throw some cold water on the possibility.
Turning to the latest rumored fit, the Braves make some sense as a potential landing spot for Franco, although they’ve already added veteran corner infielder Jake Lamb to the third base competition. Lamb signed a one-year, $1MM contract earlier in the spring, and while the deal isn’t fully guaranteed, it did place him on Atlanta’s 40-man roster. That gives the Braves three possible options already, as Lamb joins holdovers Austin Riley and Johan Camargo in the mix for playing time.
Riley excited fans and the organization alike with a huge first month in the big leagues back in 2019, he’s struggled since that point. Over his past 380 Major League plate appearances, Riley has posted a .211/.274/.387 slash with a 31.1 percent strikeout rate. Add in last year’s postseason numbers, and the overall line dips to .207/.270/.371 in a sample of 429 trips to the plate. Camargo, meanwhile, turned in an impressive 2018 effort but has posted a dismal .222/.267/.378 slash in 375 plate appearances since. As for Lamb, his 2018-19 seasons were ruined by shoulder injuries, and he got out to a miserable start in 2020 as well. After being cut loose in Arizona and landing in Oakland, however, he looked like the Lamb of old in 13 games down the stretch with the A’s.
Riley is a former top prospect who won’t turn 24 until next month, so there’s still quite a bit of upside in the former No. 41 overall draft pick. Lamb gives the Braves upside as well. He belted 59 home runs from 2016-17 in Arizona and made the 2017 All-Star team. Camargo, at the very least, is a strong defender at the hot corner and a switch-hitter at the plate.
Franco could still fit into the mix, particularly if he’s open to a minor league pact. It’s also possible that the Braves aren’t thrilled with Lamb’s slow start this spring — he’s 1-for-12 with a walk and a HBP — and could look to pivot. Lamb could be cut from his non-guaranteed deal prior to Opening Day for $161K or $242K, depending on the point at which the club makes the move, although 14 plate appearances would be an extraordinarily brief audition.
Baltimore represents the cleanest and most obvious fit of the three teams rumored to be in the mix for Franco. Incumbent Rio Ruiz hasn’t hit much over the past two seasons and is out to a slow start in camp. He also has a pair of minor league options remaining. Prospect Rylan Bannon figures to eventually get a look in 2021, but he’s only played 20 games of Triple-A ball and could potentially benefit from some additional development time.
Franco was at least a mildly surprising non-tender by the Royals back in December, as he’d turned in a solid 2020 season and drawn public praise from both his manager and general manager. Appearing in all 60 games for Kansas City, the former top prospect posted a .278/.321/.457 batting line with eight homers, 16 doubles and improved defensive marks at the hot corner. The Royals, however, cut him loose and moved Hunter Dozier back to third base, opting instead to add several players to their outfield mix.
Julio Franco might soon with an MLB team before Maikel does at this rate
Generalissimo Francisco Franco, meanwhile, is still dead.
i feel like that dude would have enjoyed the game of baseball
Jeff Francouer could always try another Braves comeback.
I think Francouer might be the worst player to ever have a 12 year career. He was just good enough to not be bad enough to cut.
@Steve. It crazy how much Frenchy had his last good season as a Royal at 27 years old. I remember all the hype and myself going to eBay to find some rookie cards of his. Hard guy not to like. He just seemed to hit a wall with his MLB career.
Or John Franco, teams always looking for lefty relievers.
James Franco is looking to get on with a team as well.
His past suggests he’d be aggressive at the plate and really exploit a pitcher’s weakness.
Meanwhile James Deen would be throwing back door sliders all day
Actor Dave Franco has said “he’d like to ink a major league deal” with the Mets.
He better sign quick, ‘cause it looks like somebody pulled the stopper out of the money sink and those offers are going down the drain.
Franco Harris probably made the right choice choosing football.
Meanwhile, the franc has fallen in relation to the dollar and it’s because no one signed Maikel!
2500+ career PA and a career BWAR of 2.5, Maybe he’s started to figure it out, maybe he will be a useful player and maybe a trade chip, but I don’t know that there are that many GM’s saying to themselves “gotta have him”
He should get a roster spot somewhere. But he’s not a standout
I’d love to have him, AS A BENCH PIECE AND BENCH PIECE ONLY. It would have to be a dirt cheap contract. But I can’t imagine a 3 team fight being dirt cheap for him. He could fight for a starting role with the O’s right? Why come to the Braves where he likely wouldn’t start? If he does start, that’s a big mistake or Riley has tanked tanked. Riley is killing it this spring so far, so I don’t understand any of this
In 2011 Jake Fox ]ed all of MLB in spring training HRs with `10. He then proceeded to hit .120 the first month of the season, was sent to the minors, had a cup of coffee in September, and never played in the majors again. Don’t let Riley’s spring training stats fool you. Guys with K rates north of 30% rarely have any long term success.
Reds should sign him to play SS
Personally I’d like KC to resign him, move Doz to RF & have Whit play 2B again while having N. Lopez & H. Alberto as the backup infielders.
Hard pass.
wow, Maikel Franco is only 28…. seems like he’s been around longer than that
I didn’t realize that Rylan Bannon was closing in on a possible MLB debut. Rylan, you should try to get some sun. To anyone who understands that reference, I salute you.
The Braves have Kung Fu Panda. What more do they need?
@bham. It looks like Pandas slumbering bat has finally awoke today. Maybe he can actually help the Braves.
I don’t see the Braves signing him.
Sounds to me that the Orioles are the only team offering him a decent chance at starting….and he really doesn’t want to play for the Orioles lol. He’s trying to drag this out as long as he can to, something a player can never publicly acknowledge, wait and see if another player is injured during ST and a “better” team jumps in to sign him. At some point he needs to take the offer on the table and get his timing down with some ST at-bats, then bet on himself to be decent enough so the O’s flip him to a contender at the trade deadline.
Orioles would be a perfect place for him to go. No pressure. Strong starting lineup around him and a great ball park to hit in.
Perfect place for a 1 year deal to build his value. You replace Ruiz’s offense that’ll be 10-15% below average and replace it with a guy who could give you 10-15% above average production.
The O’s released Hanser Alberto, a fairly productive player, because he was going to make $1.5M. Unless Franco is willing to sign for less than that, he won’t be an Oriole.
well Alberto didn’t have the best year though…
The Mets nearly signed Franco since they already have some old “Franco” uniforms leftover from 2004. But in taking Maikel’s measurements, they realized he wouldn’t be a good fit.
The Braves handling of Riley has been pathetic. I get that he had a hot start and tailed off mightily, Many young players do that.. That’s not my argument.
Put simply, the Braves are throwing away AB’s on guys the last couple of years that not only weren’t hitting or fielding better than Riley, but they were also playing as expected with no real upside. At least Riley has some potential. Give him full time AB’s in AAA or MLB and be done with this nonsense.
Camargo
Culberson
Hechavarria
In addition, they are moving him to unfamiliar positions, which rarely builds confidence. Just put him at 3B and rest him about 20% of the time when a righty is on the hill. If he can’t get it done with consistent AB’s and a consistent position (where the Braves have no better options), then figure something out. For right now, he is no worse than anyone on this team at 3B and his potential is far greater than any of the other MLB minimum types that Braves keep running out there. So either realize it and make a real move, or let it ride with Riley and hope he takes off.
@uga i have to agree with you at this point in the season riley is your best option at 3rd and he his still a kid. let him play 3rd till least the deadline and see where he is at. if he’s crushing and having a good year then every thing works out if he’s just not cutting it then you look for a 3b at the deadline. braves are are a good enough team that they can see what they have in riley till the deadline and still be in the hunt for oct.
If I was in Franco’s position, while the Braves and even the Mets would offer a chance
…at winning. I’d probably select the team who would give me the most ABs, so I’d go with the Orioles.