There’s no rest for the weary, and Opening Day merely means a date on the calendar as the Atlanta Braves continue to work on their roster.
Perhaps lost in the pomp and circumstance of Opening Day — and the “other news” that came on Friday — were a few signings (or re-signings) to augment the Atlanta Braves organization’s ability to handle possible injury or virus issues as the season gets to its first weekend.
The hope is that these guys won’t be needed at the major league level, but as the Washington Nationals have learned, it only takes one entry point to have a positive COVID-19 test start running rampant through their ranks.
Thus protection and preparation has to be exercised… just in case. That brings us to the latest additions to the Atlanta Braves:
JOHAN CAMARGO. In this case, Camargo was already at the Alternate Training site, having been optioned there as the final roster cuts were announced a week ago.
He’s back to the major league club, though, because Ehire Adrianza is reported to have had a personal matter to attend to, and left the club on Friday’s off-day to deal with that.
Accordingly, Adrianza will have to go through the COVID protocol rules of quarantining in order to return and that necessitated the roster move to bring in Camargo.
CARL EDWARDS, JR. Edwards was released by the team just before those final cuts, being told that he would not make the team. He elected free agency to have a chance to latch onto another club. That didn’t happen… or at best his other opportunities didn’t sound appealing.
To their credit, the Braves obviously left the door open for Edwards, and he has chosen to return:
#Braves have re-signed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor league deal, after releasing him near the end of spring training.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 3, 2021
Also signed utility infielder Yolmer Sanchez to a minor league deal. He was released by the Orioles on Tuesday.
YOLMER SANCHEZ. Sanchez is the player you might not know. He’s mostly been a second baseman (some work at third and a bit at short as well) for the White Sox for over 650 games since 2014.
He’s a light hitter, though has some speed (10 triples to lead the league in 2018). Overall, his career OPS+ is just 80 (.660).
He’ll turn 29 this Summer, but failed to make the Orioles out of Spring Training and the Braves have now picked him up for some experienced AAA depth.
Finally, there’s the return of an old friend:
#Braves signed reliever Jesse Biddle to a minor-league contract. He was released last week by the Reds after posting a 3.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts and two walks at spring training. Allowed nine hits in nine innings including two homers.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 3, 2021
JESSE BIDDLE. Biddle is still just 29 years old and returns after touring the country since being a Brave in 2018-19. Since then, he was in Seattle, Arlington, and Cincy.
The Reds cut him in what might have been more of a cost-cutting move, given his stat line. In fact, of the players just signed, he is plausibly the one with the best chance of getting back in the majors with Atlanta.
Still, none of these transactions are going to light up any headlines, but it is a symbol that the Braves are not simply assuming that all will go well from here to October: they are making certain that all positions are covered — sometimes 2 and 3 times deep.
That kind of work will certainly help keep momentum going for a club that has aspirations of playing deep into the Fall months.