Braves complete roster shuffle by striking surprise trade with the Orioles

ByEric Cole|
Nov 8, 2023; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos speaks to the media during the MLB General Manager's Meetings at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2023; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos speaks to the media during the MLB General Manager's Meetings at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves clearly know something has to change. They are heading out on the road having just experienced a truly horrid loss at the hands of the Diamondbacks and playing some of their worst baseball of the year. in order to bring in some help, the Braves called up Craig Kimbrel and subsequently designated reliever Scott Blewett for assignment to make room for him.

When a player is DFA'd, he is placed on the waiver wire and if he gets past all 30 teams, he can either accept an assignment in the minor leagues or opt for free agency. Apparently the pitching-starved Orioles put in a claim on Blewett from the waiver wire and now the Braves are trading him to Baltimore.

Scott Blewett's journey with the Braves comes to an end after trade with Orioles

There is a certain amount of symmetry to this move. Blewett began the season with the Orioles after they claimed him off of waivers from the Twins. The stint didn't last long as Baltimore DFA'd him in April, but they clearly saw something in Blewett they liked enough to reunite with him once the opportunity presented itself.

While it would have been nice if Blewett made his way to the minor leagues and had a chance to figure things out with the Braves, it was kind of hard to see a path forward to playing time for him anytime soon. He was pretty consistent in the big leagues and the stink of his appearance against Arizona is going to linger for a while.

The Braves weren't going to fight too hard to keep Blewett here and it was nice to get some cash. They needed his roster spot and honestly, the Orioles may have been able to get him for free if they played hard ball as the odds Atlanta would pull him back off waivers in the middle of a road trip are basically zero. With Blewett gone and Dylan Dodd in the fold now as well after Daysbel Hernandez got hurt, the Braves have a somewhat new bullpen to play with.

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