Atlanta Braves rejected by Washington over claim of Mark Reynolds

As part of a continuing pattern, the Braves did make an attempt to augment their bench, but were blocked by what can only amount to rivalry reasons.

File this one under the heading of things that Alex Anthopoulos might want to eventually return the favor about.  The Atlanta Braves won a waiver claim last weekend – the target being Washington Nationals bench player and corner infielder Mark Reynolds last weekend.

We’re seeing multiple reports on this subject now, though this is the most succinct:

Why the Nationals Would Do This

Mind you, this was most likely happening at the same time that they were dumping Matt Adams on the Cardinals and trading Daniel Murphy to the Cubs, so their decision to keep Reynolds (“Mark”, not Matt… they have one of each) has nothing whatsoever to do with competitiveness.

It also should have had nothing to do with money, for as a player signed to a minor league deal in mid-April, even the major league conversion would probably be valued at no more than a million dollars.

It would seem that this instead has everything to do with pride and the desire not to help a divisional rival.

Okay – that’s their right… but if the tables are ever turned, I could definitely see Atlanta responding in kind at some future point.

It wasn’t like Reynolds is a key member of their offense:  the 35-year-old signed originally after the start of the 2018 season and has only appeared at the plate 172 times prior to today (nonetheless OPS’ing a fairly robust .834).

[ As shown by the feature photo we used, he can pitch a little, too!  😀 ]

Since the Nats gave up even more offense in both Adams and Murphy, you’d think Reynolds would be dealt without even a second thought.

But guess again.  They just didn’t want him to be a Brave… even if only for 6 weeks.

The Braves’ Side

Regardless, this selection of Reynolds as a target was kind of interesting… and it isn’t that big a disappointment to be rejected in this way.  Here’s why:

• Reynolds is right-handed.
• So is Adam Duvall – which is why we’ve been speculating about the team picking up a left-handed bat.
• Curtis Granderson – a lefty – has completely cleared waivers.  So has Justin Smoak (less versatile, but better bat) and Lucas Duda (same… at least when he’s facing RHP alone).  So we know the Braves chose not to claim any of these players.
• Furthermore, Reynolds isn’t hitting RHP that well at all – other than occasionally running into a homer (9 HR against each arm-type, but a 60-point platoon split).

Maybe that was close enough for the Braves to take a shot at him anyway so that they would be okay in trying him vs. same-sided pitchers?

Choices are… slim

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In truth, Smoak (a switch-hitter) is hitting “meh” from either side of the plate (.252/.254) though does the most damage vs. RHP (15 HR)… which would seem to meet the Braves’ needs.  He’s easily better than Duda and a bit better than Granderson in that regard.

None of these players should been toting a glove at this time in their careers, but that’s not what Atlanta would be seeking.

Of course we also don’t know whether Atlanta also had put in a claim for Matt Adams since the Cardinals were allowed the right of claim before the Braves would have a chance.

That said, I’m kinda getting the vibe that Anthopoulos would have been rejected on Adams too, had Atlanta won that claim.

MEANWHILE:  Ryan Flaherty cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Gwinnett, accepting his assignment at this point.

So aside from the slight that Mike Rizzo gave to the Braves, it’s not a total loss here.  There are other possibilities out there… though it is apparent that Atlanta’s first choice wasn’t any of these other options.

It is making me wonder where else they wish to go in the pursuit – it that’s the appropriate word here – of a bigger bench bat.