The Atlanta Braves have continued to be active with their roster moves this season. Catcher Chadwick Tromp was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after Sunday's win over the Athletics and left the active roster at 25 players.
The team didn't make any announcements on Monday since it was an off day but they announced Tuesday afternoon that they signed former Braves killer Brian Anderson to a major league contract. He will be active for Tuesday evening's game with the Red Sox.
The #Braves today signed INF Brian Anderson to a major league contract and he will be active for tonight’s game at Boston. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred LHP Tyler Matzek to the 60-day injured list.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 4, 2024
Braves News: Atlanta signs infielder Brian Anderson to MLB deal, transfers Tyler Matzek to 60-day IL
Atlanta fans likely remember Brian Anderson for always hitting well against the Braves when the Marlins were in town. He always found a way to get a big hit when Miami needed it while facing Atlanta.
From 2018 to 2020, Anderson was one of Miami’s best bats with a .266/.350/.436 line including 42 home runs, 74 doubles, and a 112 OPS+ over 1,333 at-bats. He looked very promising but injuries plagued him from 2020 until 2022 when his tenure in Miami came to an end.
Anderson signed with the Milwaukee Brewers and appeared in 96 games in 2023 before getting designated for assignment. He ended the season with a .226 average and 72 hits including 12 doubles, nine home runs, 40 RBI, 36 walks, and 108 strikeouts.
So, not the same level of production or success he'd experienced in Miami but he signed a minor league deal with the Mariners for the 2024 season. Anderson recently opted out of that deal. He has spent the season with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate and over 176 plate appearances he had a .270/.358/.439 slash line including six home runs, seven doubles, 28 RBI, and a .797 OPS.
He hasn't gotten a shot at the MLB level but he will give the Braves a right-handed bat off the bench who has the potential to get back to his former self. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen but it's good to have the extra bat on the bench.
The unfortunate side of this deal is that lefty reliever and 2021 postseason hero, Tyler Matzek, has been transferred to the 60-day IL. Matzek had been attempting to return from Tommy John surgery but his decreased velocity and lessened command weren't promising early on in 2024.
Matzek was placed on the 15-day IL in May with elbow inflammation and was shut down from throwing. That's not the news you want as a pitcher recovering from a major surgery. Atlanta luckily has great pitching depth and losing him wasn't the biggest blow.
However, him being placed on the 60-day IL almost feels like the end of his time with the Braves. He currently is getting paid $1.9 million for 2024 and is in the second year of a two-year, $3.1 million extension. He has a club option for 2025. If anyone can recover from this kind of thing, it's Matzek but it certainly isn't a great feeling.
He gave his all for this team and will always be remembered for that incredible two-inning performance against the Dodgers in the 2021 NLCS. We may be approaching the end of an era but we will hope he is able to recover and make his way back a big league mound sooner than later.