Atlanta Braves adjust offseason roster and add 3 international signings

While we were all distracted by the playoffs and  World Series, the Atlanta Braves began shaping their offseason roster

Wednesday morning four Atlanta Braves’ stalwarts for the past few seasons officially became free agents. Nick Markakis took his place in right field for four years, and Kurt Suzuki paired up with newly extended Tyler Flowers for two.

Anibal Sanchez became the latest veteran to find new life in Atlanta and our bullpen boomerang – Peter Moylan – once more heads into free agency and probably permanent retirement.

They joined four players who came to visit a while this season and are once again job hunting – Brad Brach, Lucas Duda, Ryan Flaherty, and Rene Rivera.

Brandon McCarthy became a free agent as well. He told us in late August that should he not regain his ability to pitch well he’d retire after the season That cleared the aging veteran from the roster but more announcements followed.

Braves outright 4, lose one to a waiver claim.

The Braves outrighted outfielders Lane Adams and Preston Tucker off the roster to Gwinnett. If they remain unclaimed, they’ll have a chance to earn a roster slot in the spring.

It’s unlikely the same option becomes available for reliever Jose Ramirez and long-suffering starter Jacob Lindgren.  The Braves outrighted them along with Adams and Tucker.

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Ramirez’ shoulder injury sidelined him most of this season. With the Braves system’s saturation with young, power-arm relievers ready (or close), keeping Ramirez made little sense given the need of roster spots for healthy pitchers.

Once a rising star with the Yankees, Lindgren required ligament replacement surgery in August of 2016. The Yankees non-tendered him after the 2016 season, and he joined the Braves M.A.S.H. unit rehabbing from the surgery.

Unfortunately, the surgery didn’t take, and he had a second UCL replacement last spring.  Second UCL replacements take up to two years to rehab, and the Braves couldn’t keep him on the roster and wait.

In a smaller move, the Twins claimed outfielder Michael Reed off waivers early yesterday morning. Those departures cleared 1o spots on the 40-man roster that at 29 years-old it made little sense to hang onto him.

Braves sign two international pitching prospects

On October 9, the Atlanta Braves signed righty Royber Salinas. I believe he hails from Venezuela and according to his video, he weighed 192 pounds in August 2017.

On August 23, 2017, he pitched in the Opening round of the 2017 “Eudomar Chacin” Cup of the Adult Baseball League of Maracaibo, The story’s in Spanish, but Google Translate tells me he threw four innings, walked one, struck out seven and got credit for the win.

Baseball Prospectus (this page is free… empty but free) shows he’s 6’ 3”, weight 205 now and turns 18 next April 10.

The next day the Braves inked  Right Kevin Solano. Here’s a video of the young pitcher at the Nations Baseball Showcase ion June 14, 2018. The caption said ( think) he featured a 92 mph fastball and dominant slider in five innings pitched allowing two hits and striking out five.

That’s a Wrap

The roster has five empty slots now, and I expect a couple more changes that add space. The Braves have payroll room and prospect capital but our needs seem to clash with some of the teams who have deeper pockets and good farm systems.

Watching the roster develop should be both interesting and frustrating for the next 100 days or so. I was glad to see some small movement in the international arena too.

I wish I had more on the signings. At least it demonstrates that the Atlanta Braves are still involved in scouting the international markets. Who knows what you might find… I heard about this kid named Acuña…