The Braves announced on Monday that they’ve selected the contract of veteran righty Anibal Sanchez and designated right-hander Miguel Socolovich for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man and 25-man rosters. Additionally, the Braves added trade acquisition Carlos Perez to the active roster and cleared room by placing righty Josh Ravin on the 10-day DL with a viral infection. The Braves acquired Perez from the Angels over the weekend in a straight-up swap for infielder Ryan Schimpf.
Sanchez, 33, will look to revitalize a career that has gone south in recent seasons. Signed to a five-year, $80MM contract by the Tigers in the 2012-13 offseason, the right-hander vastly outperformed his salary in the first two seasons of that deal, taking home an American League ERA title in 2013 and turning in a strong 2014 campaign as well. However, the final three seasons of that pact quickly turned into a disaster for the Tigers, as Sanchez’s effectiveness quickly evaporated.
From 2015-17 with the Tigers, Sanchez logged a total of 415 2/3 innings and surrendered 262 earned runs (5.67 ERA) on 462 hits (85 homers) and 131 walks. The righty still shows a penchant for missing bats (8.2 K/9 over the final three years of the deal, 8.9 K/9 in 2017), but his ground-ball rate has eroded and he’s become stunningly homer prone.
He’ll eventually slot into the rotation behind Julio Teheran, Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb and Brandon McCarthy and serve as a bridge to one of Atlanta’s many impressive young arms in the upper levels of the minor leagues. For now, though, Sanchez is likely to work out of the ’pen due to the fact that Atlanta doesn’t need a fifth starter for another week or so.
Socolovich’s time with the Braves will be extremely brief. His contract was only selected this past Friday, though reports at the time even indicated that it was likely to be a short-term move. Socolovich did get into one game with the Braves, during which he tossed two perfect innings with a pair of punchouts. Prior to this abbreviated Atlanta stint, the 31-year-old spent three seasons in the Cardinals organization, totaling 66 1/3 innings of relief. With the Cards, Socolovich logged a 3.80 ERA with 7.7 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and a 44.1 percent ground-ball rate.
Why not let Aaron Blair or another kid maybe fall up?
I’m kinda over watching Blair fail every time
2-8 with a 7.89 ERA. That’s why not.
I’d rather give see him get another shot rather than release Sanchez in 6 starts
I do wish it would click with Blair. He obviously has the tools to be good… hence why he was so highly rated all those years.
I’m hoping for the best. Hopefully Sanchez will do great for about six starts and get traded to a team that needs league average innings (or close to it). Perhaps he brings back a low level prospect or lottery type player. At worst, Sanchez bombs and gets dumped in a few weeks. Either way it will hardly be a blip on the 2018 season.
Blair needs to go to the pen.
million dollar blip
I know people want Blair to have his shot, but how many more does he get? He’s been pretty terrible.
It happens, time to cut bait and move on.
0.00 era and 0.00 whip and youre demoted.
well that’s just 1 game. he historically isn’t that good. You can tell just from the basic eye test he’s not that great
Eyes can be deceiving. Stats don’t lie. Get with the program you dinosaur
Well, you’ve obviously never heard the famous quote by Samual Clemens, “There are lies, damn lies, and statistics!” Stats are the worst lies.
It’s also just 2 innings of work. And he doesn’t have the greatest of track records.
well I was trying to imply he doesn’t pass the eye test or the stat test… if he can’t even pass the eye test, you’re in trouble.
Cough MISTAKE Cough MISTAKE Cough
True story.
Baltimore will claim him
And my custom Socolovich Braves Jersey hasn’t even come in!!!
Braves management are idiots. Failed to claim Trayce Thompson and keep Bourjos and Adams on roster. #tanking