While Atlanta Braves fans wait for the big deal in this free agency frenzy, the front office continues to add depth to the system.
Depth is a huge part of a championship team and the Atlanta Braves continue to add depth with the signing of catcher Chadwick Tromp.
The catcher position became a mess in 2021 when Travis d’Arnaud when done for a while.
Atlanta has much better depth at the position already this year with Manny Pina and a more experienced William Contreras.
But that isn’t stopping them from adding even more depth at catcher as they sign Chadwick Tompt to a minor league deal.
Chadwick Tromp agrees to Braves deal. 720K if in majors
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 13, 2022
Braves Sign Catcher Chadwick Tromp
The 26-year-old catcher was signed as an international free agent by the Cincinnati Reds out of Aruba in 2013.
He made it all the way up to their Triple-A team in 2019 but never broke through in Cincinnati.
The San Francisco Giants picked him up for the shortened 2020 season and slashed .213/.219/.645 with 4 home runs in 24 games.
He was let go by the Giants after the 2020 season but they brought him back. Tromp played in 9 big league games in 2021 slashing .222/.222/.611 with 1 home run.
The Braves grabbed him off waivers from the Giants last September and decided to bring him back.
In 8 seasons through the minor leagues, he’s slashed .251/.312/.378 with 29 home runs in 386 games.
He played just 5 games with Gwinnett at the end of last year.
Braves: What Does This Mean for Shea Langeliers and William Contreras?
While this is strictly a depth move and there is a chance Tromp never makes it to Atlanta, he has to take up space somewhere.
You have to figure TDA and Pina will be on the big league roster to start the season. That would already leave a log jam at Triple-A where Langeliers and Contreras are likely going to get reps at catcher.
Maybe with the DH, the Braves decide to keep Contreras on the big league roster. Or perhaps he’s going to be part of a trade package.
It’s not the biggest deal in the world and they can figure out how to keep them all in the system, creating that catcher depth talked about in the beginning.