Atlanta Braves 2017 Under the Radar Pitcher Options

Henderson Alvarez  (RHP – sign)

Henderson Alvarez is a 26-year-old (27 in April) is 6’, 205lb, RHP drafted by signed by the Blue Jays in 2006 as an international free agent. He made ten starts for Toronto in 2011 and 31 in 2012 posting a 4.52 ERA, 4.87 FIP and 1.363 WHIP. When the Jays and Marlins traded teams – okay half their teams – in 2013 he became a Marlin.

(Injury data from Pro Sports Transactions)

After Missing the first half of 2013 with shoulder inflammation Alvarez returned in July to make 17 starts spanning 102 2/3 IP while posting with a 3.59 ERA, 3.18 FIP and 1.140 WHIP while striking out 111 and walking 33 (3 intentionally).

The 2014 season was a breakout year for Alvarez. He made 30 starts for Miami posting a 2.65 ERA, 3.58 FIP and 1.235 WHIP in 187 IP. Those numbers earned him a trip to the All Star Game and a twelfth place finish in the Cy Young voting. On the down side his right shoulder barked again sending him to the 15 day DL in August.

The Marlins liked him enough to sign him to a one year $4M deal in January of 2015 but he made only four starts throwing 22 inning before the shoulder sidelined him again. Surgeons repaired his rotator cuff and cleaned up the joint on July first and he didn’t pitch again that year.

It’s not surprising he was unable to pitch very well, it takes a shoulder at least a year to regain strength. If you’re looking for positives to take from his brief minor league outings they come in the form of 25 strikeouts in those 22+ innings with only eight walks. It would seem that he has control but we have no velocity data to go with that so there’s really no way gauge what went on.

Rebound Candidate

The Marlin’s nontendered Alvarez in December and the Athletics signed him to a one year $4.25M deal in January. He started the season on the DL and made only ten minor league starts totaling 33 innings before the season ended. The A’s outrighted Alvarez after the season but he refused assignment and became a free agent.

All of that says he’ll be inexpensive  and looking for a place to prove he can pitch. That said, readers here know my feeling about shoulder injuries; they always come back and a shoulder is never as good as it was before.

On the other hand,  Alvarez is an experienced major league arm who should be back to full strength – or as close as he’ll get – this year.  The Atlanta Braves commitment would be only one year so there’s little to lose and a lot to gain.

When healthy Alvarez pitched to a career 3.80 ERA, 1.288 WHIP 563 IP, He also averaged a quality start rate over 50% and generated a 55% ground ball rate and just a touch under 12% HR/FB rate.

Data from Fangraphs