12:20pm: Although the Braves announced in a morning press release that Johnson had been designated for assignment, the team now tells reporters that Johnson has not been designated and that there was some internal miscommunication (Twitter link via David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). Atlanta considered designating Johnson but ultimately elected to keep him on the roster due to the fact that they already had an open 40-man spot for Sanchez.
10:11am: The Braves announced that they have designated infielder Micah Johnson for assignment as part of a series of roster moves. Johnson’s 40-man roster spot will go to catcher Tony Sanchez, who was acquired yesterday in the trade that sent Brandon Phillips to the Angels.
The Braves have also activated lefty Ian Krol and righty Luke Jackson from the 10-day DL, while recalling left-handers Max Fried and Rex Brothers and third baseman Rio Ruiz from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Johnson, 26, was once one of the White Sox’ best-regarded prospects, but his stock has fallen in recent years. He was shipped from Chicago to Los Angeles as part of the three-time Todd Frazier trade in the 2015-16 offseason, and the Dodgers flipped him to the Braves for cash this past winter. Injuries limited his playing time this season, but Johnson batted .301/.391/.390 across three levels (mostly Triple-A — 36 games) in a total of 157 plate appearances. He’s a career .282/.341/.392 hitter in Triple-A bu has struggled in his brief exposure to the Majors.
Sanchez, meanwhile, is a known name due to his status as the former No. 4 overall pick in the draft (Pirates, 2009). He hasn’t appeared in the Majors since 2015, though, and has never enjoyed much success at the game’s top level. In parts of three seasons, the now-29-year-old Sanchez has totaled 155 plate appearances and batted .259/.303/.378. He’s hit for a respectable .272 average and gotten on base at a solid .355 clip through 70 Triple-A contests this season, though he’s scarcely hit for power (.374 slugging, .102 ISO, four homers in 284 PAs).
You designated the wrong Johnson.
Haha. Exactly
That’s what she said
Yuuuup
OK, it’s time for the White Sox to bring back my favorite ex-prospect and let him compete for their leadoff hitting role in 2018 as a LF/DH since he can no longer compete at 2B due to an assortment of injuries and stone hands. He’s is hardly needed there anyway with Yoan Moncada replacing him as their #1 prospect and future core second baseman. At worst, Johnson can be an insurance policy in AAA until some of the White Sox elite OF prospects make their way to Charlotte later next season or in 2019.
I like Johnson a bit too, but I doubt he’s an everyday player, especially not a guy you want at the top of your lineup. He’s never hit for power in the minors, and has never hit for anything in the majors
Most teams prefer high OBP and speed atop their batting order although the Cubs Joe Maddon likes slow power hitters who strike out a lot in that role. lol
White Sox fans love to badmouth the Cubs and Joe Maddon. Such obvious envy is sad to see.
So back I my question yesterday does tony Sanchez hold any defensive value? Seems like a strange move for a journey man to just award him a roster post bp trade. I’d rather see Dustin Peterson on the 40 man if this guy isn’t a great defender.
I’d like to see Dustin Peterson up as well, but I believe they brought up Sanchez because of Flowers’s hand injury. (Not 100% sure of that though).
Related to Flowers’ injury I’m sure.
I recall him having throwing issues with the Pirates but idk maybe he’s worked those out since. It’s been awhile.
I was going to say the throwing issues.. Had a heck of a time getting the ball to first base while in Pittsburgh. Maybe that area of the field needs the Exorcist. Pedro started out playing 3rd fairly well suddenly his throws started going everywhere but into the 1st baseman’s glove..
In one of his FG chats, Eric Longenhagen said “Fun fact: The Pirates would have drafted Mike Trout #4 overall if they hadn’t cut an under slot deal with Tony Sanchez.”
Least fun fact ever.
A better fun fact. The Angels drafted Randall Grichuk 1 spot before him for the 24th and 25th spots. The only Team that made a better pick than Trout 1-23 would have been the Nationals with Strasburg at #1 overall. Pollock and Wheeler were not bad but injuries have hurt all 3 over the years.
Not knocking the Nats, since Straus was the obvious 1-1, but Trout was still a better pick then Straus. He has been healthier and more productive.
Point I was making that Trout was picked at 25. 21 other teams had a crack at him. 2 teams had 2 cracks at him. The Angels actually picked him after Grichuk. Easy now to say all of those teams should have taken Trout before the Angels got him. Even the Angels picked a player before him.
The angels only picked trout first cause his agent came to them with some BS story about him not wanting to sign with them. Another fun fact 😀
Picked trout second I mean
yet another fun fact: the Angels drafted Trout with the compensatory pick they got after Texieira left for free agency. So the Braves got screwed both times they had a trade with Tex involved.
Hahahahaha! Another failed white sox draft pick and prospect.
He was a 9th-rounder dude. The fact that he made it to the majors at all makes him a successful draft pick that late into it
You must be a relative.
I can’t tell if you’re just being sarcastic or not but it honestly is impressive that a former 9th rounder is even relevant here
Can tony Sanchez play good defense? What does his pitch framing look like? Is there something I’m missing that he needed on our 40 man roster?
Thin at catcher with Flowers out?
Tony got the yips throwing while in Pittsburgh. Always could hit but suddenly could not get the ball to the 1st baseman on plays to 1st. Hey, maybe if they can track down Jake Taylor, maybe he could help. He helped. Rube Baker with his throwing issues.
At least he now knows he’s wanted there.
By some people at least…
“Internal miscommunication”?
Sounds like “Who’s in charge, here, anyways?” is the Braves FO motto.
(Or they have so many Johnsons it gets confusing, like the town in Blazing Saddles.)
Sounds more like someone misheard them saying we talked about DFAing him to mean we DFAed him.
That kind of gaffe is how you make guys into free agents before their time.
Braves need to put freeman on the DL