The Braves announced Wednesday that they’ve signed free-agent outfielder Alex Dickerson to a non-guaranteed Major League deal that comes with a $1MM base salary. Dickerson, a client of Moye Sports Associates, will be placed on the 40-man roster for now and report to Major League Spring Training.
After playing 95 games with the Padres over 2015 and 2016, a few injuries cost him two whole seasons, with a bulging disk and a torn UCL preventing him from playing at all in 2017 or 2018. Dickerson was able to have a nice comeback season in 2019, however, splitting his time between the Padres and Giants. He got into 68 games, making 190 plate appearances, hitting .276/.332/.489, wRC+ of 112.
2020 was a tremendous breakout for the outfielder, as he hit 10 home runs in the pandemic-shortened season, finishing the campaign with a line of .298/.371/.576, wRC+ of 151. Unfortunately, injuries struck yet again in 2021, limiting him to 111 games and a line of .233/.304/.420, wRC+ of 97. The Giants designated him for assignment in November to make room on the roster for Anthony DeSclafani.
For Atlanta, this is a low-risk gamble on a player who has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy. The $1MM is barely above the league minimum salary, which is now $700K in the new CBA. It’s also not guaranteed, meaning that the club wouldn’t be on the hook if Dickerson’s past injury issues linger into this year. As it’s a non-guaranteed deal, Dickerson would earn a lesser rate if he’s in the minors instead of with the big league team. He could theoretically reject an optional assignment given that he has more than five years of MLB service time, but it seems likely he signed such a deal with an awareness that spending some time in Triple-A could be a possibility.
For the Braves, their incredible run to the World Series last year involved acquiring a number of outfielders that were set to reach free agency at the end of the year: Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson and Eddie Rosario. They have since re-signed Rosario, who will join Adam Duvall, Marcell Ozuna, Guillermo Heredia, Orlando Arcia, Travis Demeritte and Drew Waters in the outfield mix. Ronald Acuna Jr. is still rehabbing from his torn ACL and is hoping to return by May. That somewhat crowded picture could be helped by this year’s implementation of the designated hitter for National League teams. Dickerson’s never really earned favorable ratings for his defense, making him a good fit for some time in the DH slot, especially considering his injury history.
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Wonder if this was the “bench bat” the Braves were hoping for. It is a non-guaranteed contract though so hopefully there is more.
Yet another great, low cost signing by one of the best GMs in baseball. While I hated seeing Freddie go, AA not only traded for the best available 1B on the market, he was able to lock him up for 8 years on a below-market deal that will end up costing less than what it would have taken to re-sign Freddie. Olson is 4 years younger too and a homegrown kid.
This is a no-risk flyer on a player in Dickerson who can provide instant offense so long as he is healthy. If he’s not, he can be ‘banished’ to the minors until he is. I see no downside to this deal at all.
Why?
He posted a 130 & 156 OPS+ 2019-20, then falling back to 95 OPS+ in ’21. If they can tap into what he had going there, he could be a nice LH option in reserve where they mostly have RH (Demeritte, Arcia) options or switch (Harris, Waters — long term). Heredia is a glove-only late-game option.
Hey, RunDMC. Been loving your comments for years. Do you have a twitter I can follow?
Oh will you two go get a room for crying out loud? lol
Appreciate it – unfortunately, I don’t. I’ll be around though.
Certainly an OG with good insight. I’ve lurked for years but never bothered to make a profile.
After the conclusion of the FF/Olson situation it just felt like the right time.
Piss & moan a little, move on, & talk baseball w/ those that understand it.
Hopefully the WS run was just the beginning of a successful long run again.
Very few here actually understand it but it’s a good thought.
This is the under the yellow tape purchase & another Joc? Oh, wait a minute, they’re all jocks.
Yes, I’d expect him to be able to bounce back from a sub-par year with the bat.
No, I definitely do NOT think he is an answer. I think another outfielder with more versatility than Dickerson will make the team instead of him.
If Dickerson looks anything like he did for the Giants last year, he won’t make the Braves roster.
Thus the non-guarantee.
Show me whatcha can do, kid.
They’re not looking at Harris/Waters to be fill-ins if/when Acuña misses early time to get up to game speed.
Or they can use him until Acuna returns.
The question for me is who plays Centerfield until Acuna returns.
Ozuna in LF and Duvall in RF. Rosario and DH and sub either corner.
Good question. Duvall, I’d assume, but AA was asked this and said he talked to Acuña about the possibility of him taking over down the road – presumably to get Harris into RF or flexibility of signing a COF. I believe he was referring of this timeline as more next year and not this year, wanting him to get back healthy and comfortable. Personally, I’d wonder if Ramon Laureano
If Dickerson makes the team i could Rosario/Duvall/Dickerson in the OF against righties and Rosario/Heredia/Duvall against lefties
Rosario in Left. Ozuna DH. Rosario isn’t a gold glover but he looks like one if you compare him to Ozuna.
that’s a nice bet there. Philly should have done this.
I honestly forgot this guy was a Free Agent
I got him confused with Corey Dickerson for minute
You aren’t the first to do that.
Same. Got excited for a second until I reread. Still not a bad pickup.
Bench bat. Nothing else to see here folks, move along.
Nice guy with some pop at the plate. But unreliable and frustrating in clutch situations. Perfect for the Braves.
If Dickerson had continued the success he found in September of 2020 the Giants would have won 110+ games last year. I kept waiting for him to heat up in 2021 and it never happened. I hope he finds his swing again, he’s a good guy.
Put up Bondsian numbers when he first joined the Giants. After that he was oft injured and unfortunately unproductive.
So, Braves add Olson, McHugh, Rosario, and Dickerson; lose FF. BRAVES WIN !!!
This guy has DH stamped on his forehead. He is very likeable, and good club house.
I mean, pretty good potential bench piece for 1 million, non guaranteed… can’t complain too much here. Literally no risk
No risk signing. If it works, great. If not, not a big deal. ATL seems to have good luck in these scenarios.
Good example of a player benefitting from no Rule 5 draft.
I liked Dickerson despite his ups and downs with the Giants last season. I wish him good luck in Atlanta.
I guess that means Pederson is gone
I kind of prefer guys with names like Dickerson to be on the visiting team for Braves home games, so that Matthew Kaminski gets to have some fun.