Note: this is the cover story for this week's Score Atlanta. This is the unedited version. Check it out online or when it hits newsstands this Wednesday at 1300 locations in the Greater Atlanta Area...
Any Braves fan still fuming over Ken Griffey Jr.’s return to Seattle should breathe a huge sigh of relief. Because Junior went to Seattle, the Braves actually signed the better free agent leftfielder in Garrett Anderson. For 15 years Anderson led the Angels to victory after victory and was integral in the team winning the 2002 World Series. For his career, Anderson has been named to the American League all-star team three times and was the 2003 Mid-Summer Classic’s MVP.
But what makes Garrett Anderson the perfect addition to the Braves team isn’t all-star appearances, it is his nature as a ball player. Anderson, who will wear No.18 with the Braves after fifteen years of donning No.16 with the Angels, opened the 2008 season cleanup spot for the Angels and should slide right into that vacant spot for Atlanta. Anderson manned the four-hole until the Angels made a July trade with Atlanta and acquired Mark Teixeira, moving Anderson to the second spot in the lineup. With Anderson batting cleanup, third baseman Chipper Jones can stay at his preferred No.3 spot in the everyday lineup where he hit .364 last season en route to a league batting title. Anderson can also provide coverage for Jones that the third baseman was missing down the stretch as Anderson is a career .296 hitter with 272 home runs and 1292 RBI. “I’m pleased to be here, and looking forward to helping the Braves in any way I can,” said Anderson when he was introduced as the newest Atlanta Brave last week.
“Help in any way,” will also mean playing leftfield on a regular basis. Before Anderson was signed, the team was preparing to head into the season with Matt Diaz platooning with likely Brandon Jones or Gregor Blanco in leftfield. Diaz missed most of the second half of last season with an injury and Brandon Jones never won the job in Diaz’s absence. The team missed out of Griffey, but that could end up being a blessing in disguise as Griffey was being looked at as a platoon with Diaz. A platoon would have meant two different lineups for the everyday players to get used to, however with Anderson in the fold, he will likely get most of the starts in the outfield with Diaz coming off of the bench. The left-handed hitting Anderson still hits lefties well enough to warrant staying in the lineup against southpaws. "I can't say enough about Anderson," Braves manager Bobby Cox says. "I've always tried to catch games when he was playing just to watch his swing. I was a big favorite of guys like George Brett, who could put up a good at-bat every time they were up and get the run in. Garret is that type of guy." Anderson’s smooth swing and left-handed success will be important this season as he will have significant at-bats against Ace lefthanders in his new division such as Johan Santana, Cole Hamels and (Jamie Moyer).
For those worried about Anderson switching leagues this late in his career, Anderson is a professional. “I've put on three different uniforms there and gone through three different name changes," Anderson said in his press conference. "Today when I put the [Braves] uniform on and looked down, it looked different. I'm used to seeing a different script across the front and a different color. But that chapter in my life is closed, and I'm looking forward." Despite playing with just one organization, Anderson has seen his former franchise move players in and out and take on different identities. His former team’s most recent identity mirrors his new team’s strategy of relying on good pitching while waiting for a big inning then turn it over to the bullpen. For years Bobby Cox has geared the team to sit on the starting pitching while playing for the three-run home run. Anderson should be right at home behind a feared batter and hitting in front of Casey Kotchman, his teammate from the Angels that the Braves acquired in the Texeiria deal last July.
Anderson’s arrival also signals the end of a very busy offseason for Braves GM Frank Wren. The team had several goals of solidifying the rotation and bolstering the offense of the outfield. Wren worked hard to find a bat for the leftfield position and the two-time Silver Slugger winner certainly fits the bill. "We are absolutely thrilled to bring Garret to Atlanta," says Wren on his latest acquisition. "He is a proven winner and true professional. We look forward to his veteran leadership and his presence in our lineup." Cox agreed with Wren in the introductory press conference. “This is probably the final piece to fit the 25-man roster. It's a piece that we needed. We have a lot of young outfielders in camp that could actually use another year down in the Minors. I think this helps in many ways, but especially in our lineup, Garret fits." Anderson will also be looked at a one of the players that WANTED to come to Atlanta. This offseason has seen multiple players flirt with the Braves, only to take a larger salary elsewhere. Anderson actually signed on the dotted line and many Braves fans will root harder for him for that reason.
Bottom line, Anderson’s arrival to the Atlanta means this team is ready to compete. Adding a three-time all-star to an outfield needing some juice and adding a cleanup hitter to a lineup in need of a cleanup hitter means this team can now legitimately throw its hat into the ring for the wild card as well as the division. Anderson joining the Braves for one year at $2.5M may be just a drop in the bucket financially, but the potential return could make this deal the bargain of the off-season.
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