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Atlanta Braves Announce Minor League Free Agent Signings

By Alan Carpenter |

Braves Sign 10 to minor-league contracts

Via its official twitter account (@Braves), the Atlanta Braves announced the signing of ten minor league free agents – some old friends, and several new faces.  Every one of these has also been extended an invitation to the major league Spring Training camp as a Non-roster Invitee.

DAVID CARPENTER

(The Original)  David Carpenter‘s signing was noted last week and made official today.  As you’ll recall, he was sent to the Yankees along with Chasen Shreve in the deal that brought us Manny Banuelos.  Carpenter has a rough go of it in New York, but was much better later on in Washington… sometimes against us.  Hopefully he will be back in form while in familiar surroundings.

CHRIS VOLSTAD

29 year old 6’8″ RH pitcher Chris Volstad has been up and down between AAA and the majors since 2008.  He was originally a 16th overall pick of the Marlins and broke in with them.  In 2012 he was a Cub; 2013 with the Rockies; 2014 the Angels; 2015 the Pirates.  In 156 AAA innings last year, he posted a 3.18 ERA.  Still a starter, you’d have to think he has a shot at the rotation depending on what happens on the trade market.

MADISON YOUNGINER

Madison Younginer (also known as John) is a 25 year old P from the Red Sox organization:  6’4″/195, taken in Round 7 of the 2009 draft.  He has been a reliever since 2013, and posted good numbers in AA and AAA in 2015 (3.05, 2.45 respectively – though the latter was over just 3.2 innings).  K/BB ratio is about 2.5:1 overall and seems to be relatively steady.  Will likely be assigned to AA or AAA.

WILLIANS ASTUDILLO

24 year old catcher Willians Astudillo was with the Phillies until now, though didn’t break beyond High-A ball with them.  He’s the guy we were marveling at last week with the bizarre stats:  2.4% walks/2.4% strikeouts… with a total of 41 strikeouts in his entire minor league career (5 seasons).

He’s been described as having just one ‘tool’ – he can hit.  But he can’t run, can’t field, can’t throw… and has no real power.  He’s still fascinating.  I’m a bit surprised that he garnered the Spring invite, but maybe the coaches just want to see him.

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RYAN LAVARNWAY

C Ryan Lavarnway was brought in from the Red Sox last season to help out when Christian Bethancourt was ushered to AAA for some additional work.  He didn’t play a lot, but ably backed-up A.J. Pierzynski.  He’s re-upped now with the chance to… maybe do the same thing this year.  We’ll see how it plays out.

BRAEDEN SCHLEHUBER

One of two career Braves’ minor league catchers on this list, Braeden made it to AAA last year.  He’s a steady hand behind the plate and has been getting after it since 2008.  He’s now nearly 28.  He doesn’t hit very well, but he’s been very dependable through the years, mostly in a backup role behind players like Bethancourt.

MATT KENNELLY

Catcher Matt Kennelly is the other Catcher I was speaking of above.  Excepting a brief hiatus with the Reds in 2012-13, he’s been a Brave since 2007.  His progression and stat lines look a lot like those of Schlehuber, with perhaps a bit better hitting.  Of the three true catchers on this list – Lavarnway, Schlehuber, and Kennelly – two will likely get the AAA nod and the other AA… unless there’s reason to promote one to Atlanta.

REID BRIGNAC

Reid Brignac is about to turn 30 and is the other player on this list with a lot of major league experience.  He came up as a 2nd round pick from 2006 with the (then) Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  He made the majors in 2008 as a Ray and has bounced around a bit since 2013 (Rockies, Phillies, Marlins).  His role has generally been Utility Infielder, though has mostly been used at shortstop.  He’ll probably be given a chance to compete against Daniel Castro for that role in 2016.

CHASE d’ARNAUD

Yes – he is the brother of Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud, and yes: they have met on a major league field… that happened at the end of September this year.  Older brother Chase is a nearly 29-year-old utility infielder who has been in the majors with the Pirates and Phillies, but mostly has been a ‘AAAA’ guy.  Light hitter, but same thing goes for him as with Brignac… competing for a spot.

Next: Free Agent Prices Could Make Trades More Likely

MATT TUIASOSOPO

OF Matt Tuiasosopo is 29-1/2, and his brother Marques was a Quarterback for the Raiders and Jets.  Father Manu was also an NFL football pro.  Matt has been following the AAAA path since 2008, when he got a cup of coffee with the Mariners.  In 2012, the Mets picked him up; in 2013 it was the Tigers.  In 2014 the White Sox and Blue Jays… with the Sox keeping him for 2015… but his last major league game was with Detroit in 2013:  they used him for 81 games that year, and he hit .244 with 7 homers (12 for his ML career).  While he’s listed as an outfielder, he’s had some time at every infield position and LF … but mostly LF.

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