The Atlanta Braves continue to make moves on the margins as they build depth for the 2025 season. Yes, fans are rightfully frustrated as the winter comes to a close and more than a few glaring holes remain on the roster. It doesn't make things better when the Dodgers continue to sign any elite player available and progress toward constructing the Death Star of a MLB roster.
Regardless, the Braves need to make these moves so that they can withstand the grind of a 162 game season. Fans saw firsthand how injuries can quickly derail a season last year. With that in mind Anthopoulos has brought in another option to fill the backup catcher role Travis d'Arnaud so excellently did in 2024.
Braves sign veteran catcher Curt Casali to minor league deal
Atlanta has reportedly agreed on a minor league deal for 11 year veteran backstop Curt Casali. Last season Casali served as the backup catcher for San Francisco. In 41 games with the Giants he slashed .194/.293/.250 with just one home run and eight RBI. Casali's defense also took a dive in his age 35 season as he ranked in the 20th percentile or worse in pop time, blocks above average, and caught stealing above average.
It's still likely the Braves favor other options for the backup catcher role, but with a good spring training Casali can at least throw his name in the mix with Tromp and co.
Former Braves top prospect Sean Newcomb signs deal with Boston
In the news surrounding former Braves, Sean Newcomb has found a new home in Boston. The former top Braves prospect agreed to a minor league deal with the Red Sox yesterday morning. Newcomb hasn't pitched more than 30 innings in a season in the Majors since his 2021 season with Atlanta.
Last season Newcomb appeared in just seven games for a pretty bad Oakland A's team. He finished with a 6.30 ERA, 7.07 FIP, and allowed eight walks in just ten innings of work. Unless Newcomb has drastically improved his command, he'll likely land in Boston's minor league system.
Braves continue to round out an impressive IFA class
More names continue to flood in for the impressive crop of international talent the Braves have brought in. Yesterday, David O'Brien of the Athletic reported the signing of five pitchers all of which come from Venezuela. Luisberth Valdez, Wuillinger Tovar, Diego Areinamo, Jacksel Labastida, Jesus Cova are the reported five names being inserted into the 2025 IFA class.
Five more #Braves international free-agent signings to report, all Venezuelan pitchers:
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) January 17, 2025
LH Luisberth Valdez
RH Wuillinger Tovar
RH Diego Areinamo
RH Jacksel Labastida
RH Jesus Cova
The Braves have made an emphasis on swinging big on the international free agent market (especially on the position player side) but all of these pitchers are flyers the organization hopes they can uncover with the right development.
Diego Tornes and Raudy Reyes are still the headliners of this class, but each additional name brought in will have the chance to play their way into obtaining real prospect status. It's a league-wide approach to sign as many hard-throwing youngsters as possible during each IFA signing period, and the Braves are no stranger to uncovering a few diamonds in the rough. Time will tell if any of these names make an impact at the Major League level in the years to come.