Glaus Inks With Braves

by
December 23, 2009

According to Foxsports.com and MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez, the Atlanta Braves have come to terms with Troy Glaus on a one-year, incentive-laden contract.

Glaus, 33, has logged nearly 11,400 innings at third base in his career. However, a shoulder injury now limits the 6-4, 240 pound righty batter to the other infield corner. Glaus will take over first base duties in Atlanta, as the Braves look to bridge the gap at the position until top prospect Freddie Freeman is big league ready.

Health is the question mark with Glaus. He underwent right shoulder surgery last January, missing the vast majority of the 2009 season. As he tried to make his way back to the majors, Glaus had problems with a bulging disk in his back. On the rehab trail, Glaus batted .212/.340/.329 in 103 PA spread among High-A, AA and AAA. The former Angel, Diamondback and Blue Jay got just 32 plate appearances with the Cardinals, and was slowed by a strained oblique.

In his halcyon days, Glaus mashed with the best of them. During his last healthy year in 2008, he posted a 131 wRC+, meaning his offense was 31 percent better than average, once adjusted for park and league factors. His career wRC+ is 123, and his ISO is .241. A highly patient hitter (Glaus’ outside swing percentage is just 16.5% since 2002, compared to the 25% MLB average), Glaus has consistently posted healthy walk rates (13.7 BB% career).

It’s hard to say what Glaus has left at this juncture. He also had issues with his right shoulder back in 2003 and 2004, eventually needing surgery that wiped away a portion of his ’04 season. 2007 brought forth a left foot injury that required his going under the knife yet again.

(Injury information courtesy of the Fantasy Pitch F/X Injury Tool).

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Keep a close watch on Glaus during the spring. If he’s relatively mended, he could be a cheap source of patience and pop. Of course, Glaus could also walk the Richie Sexson career path of doom.





 

A recent graduate of Duquesne University, David Golebiewski is a contributing writer for Fangraphs, The Pittsburgh Sports Report and Baseball Analytics. His work for Inside Edge Scouting Services has appeared on ESPN.com and Yahoo.com, and he was a fantasy baseball columnist for Rotoworld from 2009-2010. He recently contributed an article on Mike Stanton's slugging to The Hardball Times Annual 2012. Contact David at david.golebiewski@gmail.com and check out his work at Journalist For Hire.

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