Braves can hit below the belt by signing former NY Mets player not ready to retire

Jurickson Profar’s 162-game suspension is official. The Atlanta Braves have freed up about $18 million to spend (on pitching perhaps?) and maybe even add in another hitter. Signing Lucas Giolito is practical. Signing a right-handed DH is a bit necessary. The New York Mets rival has added flexibility in the wake of what could have been worse news.

The pool of available players isn’t deep with Andrew McCutchen and Tommy Pham as two of the more well-known names. Another still unsigned player is someone Mets fans would never want to see do a tomahawk chop. Wilmer Flores is still out there and might just be the affordable gamble Atlanta could take on.

The Braves can hit the Mets where it hurts by signing Wilmer Flores

Starling Marte had to settle on a one-year guaranteed contract worth $1 million fresh from a good offensive season. What would someone who was hot to start the year and cratered have to do? Our beloved Wilmer Flores is holding out hope that his playing days aren’t over yet.

He turns 35 in August which isn’t the bad news. He’s more of a right-handed DH type who can play a little first base if needed. That’s a strike against him. He went into May with an outrageous 28 RBI last year. Great! He ended the year with only 71. That’s a major downfall.

Flores has now played more games for the San Francisco Giants than he ever did with the Mets. Unfinished with his playing career, he’s going to have a tough time convincing any team to sign him with a proposed right-handed DH role as the best he can offer. The Royals might’ve been a good fit before Marte landed there. They can’t possibly think of him as an actual outfield option, can they?

Atlanta will be in semi-scramble mode with Dominic Smith as the player Roster Resource has moved up the depth chart to replace Profar. Flores has sent out the signal that he’s eager to add at least one more year, but it’ll need to require a major league deal.