The Atlanta Braves have been forced to shuffle their roster over the last couple of days due to injuries to key players. First, Max Fried was placed on the 15-day injured list with neuritis and then second baseman Ozzie Albies suffered a fractured wrist in the final inning of Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.
This led the Braves down a path of tough decisions and not how they hoped to start the second half. Fried seems to believe he won't be out too long but this leaves Atlanta with the need to fill two spots in the rotation. Albies presented another tough situation as he will be out for two months.
Earlier in the day, the team announced they signed former All-Star Whit Merrifield to an MLB deal to add depth to the bench. It was also expected that the team would call up top prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. to play second base in Albies' absence.
The #Braves today selected INF Nacho Alvarez Jr. to the major league roster and placed INF Ozzie Albies on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left wrist. Additionally, the club today signed INF Whit Merrifield to a major league contract after optioning OF Eli White to…
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 22, 2024
Braves News: Atlanta's roster shuffle creates room for top prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. and veteran Whit Merrifield
However, the team officially announced some of the roster moves on Monday with a noticeable impact on their outfield depth. Atlanta placed Ozzie Albies on the 10-day IL with a fractured left wrist and selected Alvarez's contract. To make room for Whit Merrifield, the team optioned OF Eli White to Triple-A Gwinnett and designated OF Forrest Wall for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Wall played in 13 games with the Braves and batted .241/.313/.241 across 32 plate appearances. He had spent most of the season in Gwinnett but his speed was the main reason Atlanta kept him on the MLB roster. White appeared in nine games for the Braves with three hits in 13 at-bats including one homer and two RBI. Unfortunately, the addition of Merrifield made him and Eli White expendable.
Merrifield can play the infield and outfield for Atlanta. He's played second base, third base, and left field this season. He didn't have the best time with the Phillies as his .199 average through 53 games indicates. So, while the outfield depth is impacted a bit, the Braves added a utility man who can help hold things down until the trade deadline if Atlanta feels the need to add an outfielder.