Atlanta Braves – Keeping You Up-To-Date With New Changes
By Jason Alford
In case you missed it!
The Atlanta Braves have made some moves recently. On Monday the Braves signed Jhoulys Chacin to a minor league deal.
He pitched in just five games at the Major League level last year for the Dbacks, where he posted a 3.38 ERA along with a 4.63 FIP. Most of his innings (128.2) came in Triple-A where he posted a 3.22 ERA along with 88 strikeouts to 45 walks — just a 1.96 K/BB ratio.
Chacin represents another low risk-high reward type who could be called upon to spot start or be a long man in the bullpen. You may remember him better from his days out in Colorado as a Rockie. In the seven seasons he’s played in the big leagues he’s compiled a 40-49 record with a 3.76 career ERA. Not bad considering he played half of those games where the air is thin.
The Braves have officially announced the signing of Tyler Flowers to a two-year contract that includes an option. He hit .239 with nine homers and 39 RBIs for the Chicago White Sox last season. He is expected to be the backup to AJ Pierzynski as he seeks to continue the good work he started last year.
Even though we’re not really sure he exists – the related move was Dian Toscano being outrighted off the 40 man and sent to AAA. I’ll let you know if he in fact is real when the season starts at AAA, as I will be attending several games this year with recaps.
Haven’t we been punished enough?
I guess not because Jonathan Papelbon‘s no trade clause doesn’t include the Braves. This is one of those off the scrap heap* vets we DON’T need to be looking at. The crotch grabbing, foul mouthed closer is being shopped by the Nationals, who I hope will stay there so that we can (hopefully) add to his blown saves total this year! (*Personal Opinion – scrap heap refers to his brainpan, not his arm.)
The Cubs apparently are still talking to Atlanta about Ender Inciarte. If Atlanta gets back the rumored “Blow me away” offer, than I can see it as a possibility, hopefully he gets to stay at least until the deadline so that we can see him play, and judge for ourselves just how good he is(n’t).
Lastly- it appears the Braves are going to have a problem moving forward. Dansby Swanson or Ozhaino Albies at SS… Oooh which one gets to start over the other? These are the kinds of problems that are good to have as the team moves forward in its rebuilding plan.