Braves 2019 World Series Odds Unaffected by Donaldson and McCann Signings
- The Braves’ 2019 World Series odds haven’t changed despite a pair of splashy moves
- Josh Donaldson was one of the most coveted free agents on the market
- Donaldson can elevate Atlanta into a World Series contender
The Atlanta Braves racked up quite the bill on Cyber Monday. The reigning NL East champs dipped deep into their savings to sign former AL MVP Josh Donaldson to a one-year contract.
Breaking: The Braves and 3B Josh Donaldson have agreed on a one-year, $23 million contract pending a physical, according to The Athletic. pic.twitter.com/NsI86pTxLc
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 26, 2018
The Braves holiday shopping didn’t end there as they also signed Brian McCann to a one-year deal, but despite the spending spree Atlanta’s World Series odds haven’t budged since they were released on October 29th.
2019 World Series Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Boston Red Sox | +650 |
| Houston Astros | +700 |
| New York Yankees | +750 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +800 |
| Chicago Cubs | +1200 |
| Cleveland Indians | +1300 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +1300 |
| Atlanta Braves | +1400 |
Donaldson Can Be a Difference Maker
With all due respect to McCann, Donaldson is the reason why Braves fans should be giddy.
The Bringer Of Rain Josh Donaldson is bringing his sweet stroke to Hotlanta #Atlanta #Braves #MLB #Donaldson pic.twitter.com/wB1Plazadi
— Take Your Base Sports (@takeyourbasepod) November 26, 2018
Yes, he’s been plagued by injuries the last two seasons, but his ceiling is as high as any player in baseball.
Totally agree. The upside of Josh Donaldson is…oh, just the best 3B in baseball.
Highest OPS+ by all 3B since 1900 with 3,000+PA: Mike Schmidt 147 Eddie Mathews 142 Chipper Jones 141 Josh Donaldson 137 https://t.co/68erpDVVj4 — Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) November 26, 2018
Prior to 2018, he compiled three straight seasons of at least 33 home runs and a .939 OPS, and according to Fangraphs he’s the most valuable infielder in baseball over the last six years.
From 2013 to 2018, only Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw posted a higher WAR than Donaldson
The Braves Belong Among the NL Elite
With the addition of Donaldson, the Braves now have one of the deepest rosters in the NL. Their infield is anchored by two 2018 All-Stars in Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies, and their outfield features one of the best prospects of the last decade.
Ronald Acuña Jr. with the grand slam ????
He’s the youngest player in postseason history with a grand slam, at 20 years, 293 days old. pic.twitter.com/kLDD9nDAL3 — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2018
Their pitching staff is no slouch either, as the majority of the arms that produced the second-lowest ERA in the NL last season will return in 2019.
Bet the Braves
Atlanta won 90 games last season, but per run differential, they played closer to a 92 win team. They’ll be heavily favored to repeat in the NL East, and their offense has just been massively upgraded.
Their odds should be closer to the Dodgers and Cubs but for some reason the books are sleeping on them. Grab the value now before they adjust.
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
