ATLANTA -- As the Braves were evaluating what to do with Matt Adams when their All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman returns from the disabled list, Freeman lobbied for an unexpected option on Wednesday afternoon, when he told Braves officials he was serious about making the transition to third base.
"I said I'm completely on board with it, I want to do it," Freeman said. "We've got to keep Matt's bat in the lineup and I'll do anything to win."
As the Braves have gone 16-17 while Freeman has been sidelined with a fractured left wrist, they have benefited from the presence of Adams, who entered Wednesday having hit 10 homers with a .984 OPS in 29 games since being acquired from the Cardinals to serve as Freeman's replacement.
"If I can move to third, then I'll do that," Freeman said. "If I can move back into the middle of the lineup with what the guys have been doing, I think we could have a pretty special last couple months."
Through he was briefly introduced to left field while playing for St. Louis earlier this season, Adams' defensive versatility doesn't really extend beyond first base. So, unless the Braves opt to trade him, the only way for the Braves to keep him and Freeman in the same lineup was subject to the latter agreeing to change positions.
"It shows the type of guy he is and the confidence the organization has," Adams said. "If I continue to keep distractions at a minimum and keep playing the way I know I can play, then this season is going to keep being fun."
Freeman could be cleared to begin hitting as early as Friday and he has spent the past couple days completing fielding drills. There was initially some thought he wouldn't return to Atlanta's lineup before the final week of July. But recent evaluations have placed him ahead of schedule and created the possibility he could actually return either right before or right after the All-Star break .
Freeman spent approximately 30 minutes Wednesday afternoon taking grounders and acquainting himself to the third-base position with the assistance of third-base coach Ron Washington. He will continue working with Washington during next week's road trip and then possibly be cleared to begin playing Minor League rehab games.
"I'm not going to be perfect over there," Freeman said. "I'm going to make my mistakes. It's just me and Wash getting the footwork so that I can do the little things correctly. I think if I do that, everything else will fall [into place]. I'm obviously not going to go out there and make the spectacular plays. I don't expect that. Maybe I'll surprise some people."
Freeman's most recent experience as a third baseman came via five Gulf Coast League games played shortly after the Braves selected him in the second round of the 2007 MLB Draft. The 28-year-old has spent the past decade establishing himself as an above-average first baseman and one of baseball's best overall players. He has earned the right to remain in his comfort zone, but in this instance doing so would go against his constant attempt to be an unselfish, team-first employee.
"If Freddie is into it, then I am," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It's not something where I'm forcing him to go over there. This is something he's all in with and wants to do. Because of that, I think he's going to be fine."

It's cool that Freeman is such a team player but I think he would get exposed at 3rd.I don't think he's agile enough and the long throws under pressure would probably not turn out very good.If he could adjust and handle it,they could become a solid team.Just my 2 cents.

Good on him for wanting too,he ain't Schmidt or Robinson at 3rd.

Anybody that don't think Freddie is athletic enough to play 3rd, hasn't been watching baseball very much. The dude has great defense and routinely makes plays that most wouldn't. He will be fine and dandy at 3B.

He'll do fine at 3rd.

Picking up Adams was the best move the Braves front office has made in a while and they need to keep his bat in the lineup.

They're solid defensively and they have the bats to score runs. If they had a decent starting rotation, and a halfway decent bullpen, they'd be a legitimate playoff contender.

Yep, pitching is killing everybody these days...but I feel we got a decent rotation now with Colon still on the "DL". I say we look at Colon again when we play Padres or A's in a few weeks, and if he still stinks...send him on. I like Newcomb, and Wright is going to be A OK.

And I cant believe they couldn't find a place for Adams on the Cardinals...Im glad they didn't, hes loving our new stadium...especially right field!

It amazes me how the Braves can have pitching without hitting or hitting without pitching every year.

He'll do OK fielding the ball, the question will be can he handle the throws? It is a different animal and not nearly as easy as some make it look. It is a long throw and often has to be made from different arm angles.

I'm kind of getting on board with the Braves now so I hope it works out for him. After all, it isn't like they have someone all world there now he would have to replace. Play defense slightly above horrible and keep hitting and the move will be a positive.

Wait, what? It's been a long time since they had a decent offense. It's not really been back and forth like that.

Who dat?

We're talking Braves Ain't no none sporting on the Saints.

Not a solid team without good starting pitching. You can not be successful in MLB's long season without it. It may not win you the World Series but it will get you to the playoffs.

Then the hot team in the playoffs usually wins it all.

I agree to a point, can he throw?

I believe it's all talk. They just doing it to make Adams trade value higher. They will trade Adams before the deadline

If they trade him, I hope they have enough sense to get some good starting pitching out of the deal.

The braves still have a team?

Watched Adams go 2/5 Thu night with a HR at Sun Trust. He's the real deal and looks real comfortable at the plate while batting around 300 in his chance.

Yes, they have to keep his bat in there and 1B is the only place he can play. St. Louis already tried to hide him in left field and it apparently was a huge disaster.

Braves are creeping up to 500.

Fun to watch a live game that had 23 runs, 30+ hits and prob 7-8 HRs even if it started late and didn't end til ~1 in the morn. Sun trust is a hitters park.

What 500 people showed up to watch?

Thats the kinda guy you want on your team.

I like Freeman and Adams but if you can trade 1 of them for a solid starting pitcher than that might be the way to go.I don't look for Freeman to be on fire when he comes back,I mean it is a broken wrist.No way his torque and power are gonna be right where it was prior to getting hurt.The experiment at 3rd is worth a try,in the American league they would be a front runner with the DH in place.

Absolutely going to be the case with him. Can he make the consistent throws, can he cover slow rollers, bunts etc. Most 3rd baseman are converted SS, and I don't see Freddie playing shortstop anytime soon. He is a absolute great 1st baseman and you love a guy who is a team 1st ball player. I've always been a fan of his even though he's a Cali kid.

I will take so,so defense as long as he keeps hitting what he was hitting before he got hurt. He played 3rd in high school and I believe he will throw fine. But I look for him to struggle a while at the plate when he comes back...which may lead to a short leash with him. Make no mistake, he will play 3rd when he comes back...this is not a stunt.

I would think that when the Braves are out of the pennant chase to even the most optimistic, Adams would make great trade bait to an AL team looking for a DH. In return, the Braves could ask for a young SP super prospect.

TEAM player, he just wants what is best for the team. Can't ask much more from a player. I think he will do fine at 3b after a couple of weeks to get his legs and arm adjusted. He did play 3b at one time. I agree, I think Braves are shopping for quality pitching and someone is trade bait ( Adams, Phillips ).

There's no way they trade Philips,he's hitting and playing solid D.

I say give up Julio Tehran and Matt Kemp...I feel Kemp is fixing to tank...just a hunch. Tehran is just not good at baseball and even worse at home.

Kemp is strong trade bait when they are out of contention. He has proven this year that he can be an asset when he's healthy. A team needing a bat during a pennant chase would take him. I'd keep Tehran. He is still young enough and shows flashes of brilliance at times. If he could ever figure out how to get through the first couple of innings unscathed, he'd be tough. Seems he is always going into the 3rd inning down 3-0. Sometimes the bats come back for him, sometimes they don't.

Activated from DL and starting at 3rd tonight.