The Braves have promoted infielder Hector Olivera for his first major league stint, according to a team announcement. The move had been expected, as reporters have indicated over recent days that Olivera was being prepared for a September call-up. (Among them, David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweeted yesterday that a move was still expected and Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com added today on Twitter that it was forthcoming.)
Nothing about the 30-year-old’s nascent professional career has been straightforward thus far. While it’s hard to know quite what to expect, it will certainly be interesting to see him in action at the big league level. Olivera is expected to see regular time at third base, as O’Brien tweets.
Hotly pursued as a free agent out of Cuba, Olivera signed with the Dodgers over the winter for six years and $62.5MM after making a last-minute switch of agents. But he was ultimately traded to the Braves over the summer in an inordinately complicated three-team arrangement. With $28MM of that commitment accounted for in a signing bonus, he’ll only cost Atlanta about $30MM from 2016 to 2020.
Olivera was putting up big offensive numbers in the Dodgers’ system before suffering a hamstring injury. He continued to work back from that after being traded to the Braves, but he never came all the way back around at the plate before moving out of the minors. It’s important to bear in mind that we’re still looking at very small samples here. His time in the majors over the next month should say more about his longer-term outlook, though even that will serve as little more than an introduction.
Why did they wait until September 1st to call him up. He will not be eligible for the playoffs… Where is my sarcasm font?
He would be eligible for the playoffs, he only has to be in the organization before September 1, not on the major league roster.
Under Major League Rule 40 (a), the pool of players eligible for the postseason consists of the 25 players on the active roster and any players on the disabled, bereavement, suspended or military lists before midnight ETon August 31.According to the guidelines listed under rule 40 (a), it is beneficial to leave players that are already on the DL there until 9 p.m. on August 31.
Unless Olivera was on the disabled list, he is not eligible.
He’s eligible, because you can fill in for any 15- or 60-Day DL player with any man from the 40-man roster, as long as they were on the 40-man prior to Sept. 1.
-C
Can’t be worse than Chris Johnson was!
I hope I am wrong but I just do not see every day player, plus he is 30 I hope he is a fast learner. We probably just went from one problem at 3B to another one with longer commitment. Austin Riley is going to fly through the system. This trade still looks terrible on the Braves end.
Very possibly. But this is NOT an expensive commitment. 30mil for 5 years
5 years at 6 million AAV to a guy with no MLB experience. I hope Hart is right about this guy.
Your right Niekro…30…with no major league minor or majors experience.
Jeff, give me a break. Big offensive numbers? 2HRs, 10 rbis,.272 BA in 35 minor league games.
Give yourself a break, you seem stressed over a really minor point. He was hitting plenty well at AA and AAA before the deal. I’m not going to add it up, but looks to be aBout a .900 OPS between them.
no, you need the break Jeff..poppa 2625 made a good point. Have you looked at his performance numbers that you categorize as “big offensive numbers”?/? Take a good look at the composites and there is at least some reason for doubt that this guy will be anything more than a very expensive investment for a team that can ill afford it.
5/$30M isn’t an expensive investment for any MLB team.
-C
There’s no reason to reach any conclusions yet based on a miniscule sample from his first minor league action, but again, his numbers in the upper minors with LAD were good. That’s all I said.
I obviously looked at the numbers. Here they are:
AAA (OKC): .387/.387/.581
AA (Tulsa): .318/.400/.455
I acknowledged they were not as good since coming to ATL (while he’s been working back from the hammy issue). Not that it really matters anyway — it’s just all we have to go on at this point.
Still bummed about letting go Olivera. But at least we got Wood and a reliable Avilan.