Atlanta Braves shuffle the bullpen: Touki Toussaint recalled
By Fred Owens
Atlanta Braves 40 39 man roster
The DFA’s of Jerry Blevins on Monday and Biddle Wednesday left the roster with an empty spot waiting for a tenant. There’s no immediate need to add anyone and having it makes adding a waiver wire pickup or a free agent quick and easy.
I’m not talking about the remaining big-name free agents. The way the Atlanta Braves maneuvered so far this year, players who opt out, are DFA, or released are their targets of opportunity like Carlos Torres who opted out of his contract with the Padres Wednesday.
Torres is a 36-year-old RHRP who generally doesn’t walk a lot of batters and posted a 2.49 ERA, 1.224 WHIP, and struck out 8.3 batters per nine at El Paso before choosing free agency.
According to MLBTR. Torres managed to increase his fastball velocity to 93mph last season. Torres has a history of pitching a lot of innings and providing solid, if not eye-popping, results.
That’s a wrap
Mike Soroka is the undisputed number one in the Atlanta Braves rotation, followed by Max Fried, Kevin Gausman, and Julio Teheran.
Asked after Tuesday’s debacle if Foltynewicz would make his next scheduled start, manager Brian Snitker said he didn’t know. Even that admission is noteworthy.
He’s pitching so badly, that the Braves would be better served by putting him on the IL, inserting Touki or Newcomb, and calling up Wilson as long man from the pen. If they intend to contend, the Braves can’t give away any more games.
Next. Playing left field and batting . . .. dark
Snitker’s the kind of loyal manager to give Foltynewicz the start anyway, but I don’t see it ending well if he does. This time next week we’ll know the answer.