Braves Key to Seamlessly Replace Josh Donaldson is Already on Roster

The Atlanta Braves are seeking to fill the void left at third base now that Josh Donaldson is a member of the Minnesota Twins.

That could mean spending a hefty amount of money on a free agent or really going all in and trading for Kris Bryant or Nolan Arenado. Yet there is another alternative that is the easiest of all. That is to promote Austin Riley and make him the everyday third baseman.

Riley appeared in 80 games for the Braves in 2019 and a quick glance at a Twitter search of his name shows that fans aren't too optimistic about his future. That is a bit harsh considering his lack of experience.

The youngster managed to hit 18 home runs and drive in 49 runs in only 274 at-bats. He did strike out 108 times compared to only 16 walks. Once again, it was his first run in the majors.

Riley came up as a third baseman and was only relegated to the outfield in 2019 because of Donaldson's presence in the lineup. Giving up on the 2015 first-round pick as the potential future at third base is just nonsensical at this point in time.

Starting the season with Riley at third, as opposed to making a blockbuster trade, saves the Braves tens of millions of dollars and keeps the core of the team and farm system intact.

If the Braves remain World Series contenders and Riley is just playing absolutely terrible, then the team can make a move around the trade deadline. But there is no need to panic and take on a fortune when a potential in-house replacement is already there.