Opening Day for the Atlanta Braves was delayed by a day due to weather. However, almost every other MLB team begins the 2024 season today. Most rosters have been filled to begin the season but there are still some free agents waiting for jobs.
Even Adam Duvall had to wait until a week before the season to find a job. Luckily for Duvall and his family, the Atlanta Braves decided to bring him back to an organization that highly values him.
Other players across the league such as Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery for example, stayed in the free-agent market longer than expected. It made us wonder if there were any former Braves out there still looking for employment heading into the 2024 season.
Tommy La Stella
Tommy La Stella, 35, will be entering his 11th season in the MLB. He made his debut with the Braves when he was 25 years of age and after being away from the game for a while.
La Stella quickly turned into a fan favorite thanks to his reliable defensive play at second base and pesky ability to extend at-bats until he got a hit or walked.
He was an All-Star in 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels but has struggled mightily the past two seasons with the Giants and Mariners. At the age of 35 and not many options left, retirement could be on the radar for Tommy La Stella. On the other hand, it would not be surprising at all to see him sign with a big league team and make contributions immediately.
Robbie Grossman
Switch-hitting outfielder Robbie Grossman remains a free agent. Grossman was with the Atlanta Braves for the second half of the 2022 season. He appeared in 46 games wearing a Braves uniform, hitting five home runs and driving in 22.
Grossman is 34 years old but still has a little bit of power left in his bat from both sides of the plate. With him being able to swing from both sides, Grossman could be a great weapon for any team to bring off the bench when matchups call for it.
He was lucky to spend 2023 with the Texas Rangers and earned a World Series ring so if this were to be his last hoorah, that's the way you'd want to go out.
ROBBIE GROSSMAN 🤯
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 11, 2022
The Braves were trailing 6-2 heading into the 9th.
The Braves are now leading 7-6. pic.twitter.com/xTJD7esy6Z
Manny Pina
This one hardly counts as a former Atlanta Braves player but Manny Pina was on Atlanta's roster back in 2022. He was the Braves' third catching option at the time so he only appeared in 5 games for the Braves.
Pina has spent the majority of his career with the Brewers. He is a career .243 hitter with 43 home runs and 149 runs batted in throughout his 10 seasons played.
Debut night for new @Braves catcher Manny Piña ✔️ pic.twitter.com/fnByvv2ZEi
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) April 11, 2022
With these respectable numbers, it is kind of surprising that Pina has not signed a contract heading into 2024 with the intention to be a backup catcher. At his age and the physical demand of his position, Pina could be eyeing retirement as well.
Teams are always looking for depth throughout the season so any of these former Atlanta players could find themselves with a job before they know it.
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