The case for Braves to tender Nicky Lopez

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Michael Soroka’s future in Atlanta seemed to go from questionable to doubtful when he suffered his season-ending right forearm injury in September. So the most intriguing decision the Braves have before Friday’s non-tender deadline focuses on Nicky Lopez.

Or maybe there really aren’t any tough decisions.

Count me among those who believe Lopez is worth the approximate $3.5 million to $4 million he could gain via the arbitration process. This is a high-energy, incredibly skilled backup infielder who has the potential to provide high-caliber defense at both middle-infield spots.

Second baseman Ozzie Albies has spent some time on the injured list over the past few seasons, and as shortstop Orlando Arcia faded down the stretch last year, he showed he could benefit from regular rest.

How about that issue of rest? Braves manager Brian Snitker was asked about this frequently this year and he repeatedly pointed out that most of his regulars wanted to play on an everyday basis. That’s all fine and dandy. But they don’t give purple hearts to players who play 162 games or close to it. And if they did, a player would rather have a World Series ring.

Now, before going too far down this rabbit hole, I don’t believe fatigue factored into the Braves' offense slumbering throughout this year’s National League Division Series. They had almost a whole week off between games. That’s the reason, right?

Quite honestly, by staging the three intrasquad games during that “bye week,” the Braves seemed to do all they could to stay focused and keep themselves acquainted with the speed of the game. Then Ranger Suárez happened. Or Suárez and a bunch of relievers happened.

One of the greatest offenses ever assembled was quieted in two Suárez-Spencer Strider matchups, during which Strider pitched like a frontline starter.

This was a long, roundabout way of saying, though I don’t think fatigue significantly influenced the Braves’ premature exit, I think it would be wise to give the starters more regular rest next year. Having a player like Lopez available would give Snitker the comfort needed to regularly rest Albies, Arcia, Austin Riley and maybe even Matt Olson.

Teams that earn a bye will continue to search for ways to best utilize the time between the end of the regular season and the start of the LDS. It’s all about being at your best when the postseason begins.

So instead of chasing another 100-win season or individual records next year, it might ultimately be more valuable to give Lopez plenty of opportunities to prove he is worth what he could gain via arbitration.

The Braves’ other arb-eligible players are Max Fried, Nick Anderson, Kolby Allard, Michael Tonkin and Huascar Ynoa.

Allard and Soroka seem to be the most likely non-tender candidates. That’s a sentence I never would have envisioned writing back when the Braves took these two hurlers with their first two picks of their great 2015 Draft class. That class also included A.J. Minter and Riley.

What’s the difference with Soroka this year and each of the past few years when the Braves annually paid him $2.8 million despite not knowing if he’d return to where he was before first tearing his Achilles in 2020? He’s out of options now and far from a lock for an Opening Day roster spot. Knowing Soroka could be claimed off waivers before next season begins, it seems there would be more productive ways to fill the 40-man spot this winter.