Just-released Pirates backstop Francisco Cervelli evidently won’t spend much time on the open market. He is slated to ink a deal with the Braves, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter). Whether it’s of the major or minor-league variety isn’t known.
Cervelli still must clear release waivers before he’ll be able to sign a new deal. But that’s really just a formality, given that he’s still owed the balance of his $11.5MM salary — about $2.4MM. The Braves will only owe him the league minimum rate for any time spent on the MLB roster, with the Bucs paying the rest.
While it seemed at one point earlier this year that Cervelli would not attempt to return to catching duties, he emphatically quashed that concept and has donned the mask on a rehab assignment. Now, he’ll help the Braves cover for the recent loss of Brian McCann. Whether Cervelli will immediately join Tyler Flowers on the MLB roster isn’t known. It’s also possible that the club will tap John Ryan Murphy for that job and then bring up Cervelli once rosters expand.
Cervelli has hit well on his recent rehab stint, but that’s a limited sample against minor-league pitching. He was far from his peak form to begin the season, turning in 123 plate appearances of .193/.279/.248 hitting before he hit the injured list. With a rising chase rate and swinging-strike rate, declining average exit velocity, and worsening strikeout-to-walk numbers (25.2% K vs. 7.3% BB), the poor output was well-deserved.
The Braves will have to hope there’s more left in the tank. Cervelli has been a solid-two-way catcher for quite some time. Just last year, he was able to turn in a healthy .259/.378/.431 slash line with a dozen home runs. Regardless of the outlook with the bat in hand, the Atlanta organization is obviously interested in adding some veteran depth behind the dish. Better options aren’t likely to present themselves over the next week — after which time it will not be possible to acquire a postseason-eligible player. By picking up Cervelli, the club will add another layer of protection in the event that McCann is slow to return.
Hope he suceeds
Great pickup. Guy is a gamer.
What a steal! More injuries!!!
So I guess McCann will be out longer.
Not necessarily. Not much ML depth outside at C. I doubt they believe in AJax and JR Murphy for any amount of time. They could afford this as a tryout and see if he’s worth carrying into Sept when rosters expand over the other guys. Not much risk to take a flyer.
Agreed. Seems like the Braves have had such a hard time filling that void since BMac left for the Yankees back in the day.
Gez not much room for him on the roster. Needs to be a minor league deal right? Nice depth if he can come back healthy. Isn’t he already on the 60 day DL, can the braves sign him to a major league deal without having to make a roster move today?
Minor league until 09/01?
That doesn’t doesn’t truly matter. As long as he’s in the org, by the deadline 8/31, he’s playoff eligible.
That’s what I meant.
McCann just went on the IL. Not sure what kind of deal they’ll give him but he’ll see some time in Atl if he’s healthy.
They’ll pay him the remainder of a league minimum salary. Pittsburgh is on the hook for the bulk of his remaining money.
Shortestfree agency in history?
there’s catching and then 8 other guys fill in…
Is this not tampering? The Pirates know why he wants to be released, I’m no expert I just figured this sounded like tampering
We would need more info than what we have, but this did happen very quickly. Yours is a legit point to raise.
The post right before this has the information.
““Out of respect and appreciation for Francisco, we have chosen to honor his request to be released in order for him to pursue an opportunity that potentially gives him a chance at more playing time, as well as an opportunity this season to compete in the postseason.”
That just means that the Pirates decided not to trade him. It doesn’t mean, for instance, that teams didn’t contact Cervelli before he got released.
I dont think its about whether or not the Pirates decided to trade him considering the Pirates wouldnt be allowed to trade him if they wanted. You know, the new trade rules ‘n’ all?
I’m not sure if it could be considered tampering, but if he hasn’t already cleared release waivers, Atlanta would have to claim him and be responsible for the remainder of the contract, not just the prorated minimum.
Not true- he was unconditionally released by the Bucs, no waiver process. Hence once it was granted, he could sign a deal with the Braves with the Bucs covering the rest of this yrs salary minus the pro rated amount of league minimum.
So Jeff Todd was incorrect in saying he had to still clear release waivers?
It’s only tampering if his old team preferred to keep him. A team can give permission for players and other teams to communicate.
This Pirate fan wishes him nothing but the best in Atlanta. No one plays harder than Cervelli.
I agree, have enjoyed watch Frankie catch games when I was able to get to PNC. I thought that he was the leader on the field that Marte and others could not be. Now the ship is completely ruderless… not that they haven’t been that way for some time now. Good Luck Frankie!!
I always found it gratifying that Pittsburgh fans saw the same qualities in Cisco as NYC. But all those concussions, and a poor decision, held him back.
That was quick
All the best to Frankie. Good guy who worked hard here. Glad he’s able to leave this ship of stiffs
Now that the rumored plan is out, he will probably get claimed. Or, the crooked New York biased mlb office will interfere.
Not true- he was unconditionally released by the Bucs, no waiver process and nothing to tamper with.
The article states he needs to clear waivers, but it’s basically just a formality.
It’ll take another 24-48 hours for the Braves best writers to get the memo
I thought he said he was done woth catching because of concussion issues. Besides Alex Jackson has 24 HRs in AAA give him a chance.
Jackson can stick with the club through September, too. Flowers has had a tough season at the plate and behind it. Murphy, Cervelli, Jackson … depth is a good thing if McCann’s knee doesn’t heal quickly.
Cervelli did at one point say he was done with catching, but he backtracked from that a few days later.
He’s garbage.
I like it. Even with his production this year, I’d take him over Flowers and McCann.
Why McCann? He’s had a good yr and the young pitchers love him.
He had a good 1st half. His second half has been terrible, particularly as a hitter. The Braves 5-8 is not very good (right now) and their catchers play a big part of it. Unfortunately for the Braves, this catchers problem might persist into 2020. They have no one capable of taking over the spot. Alex Jackson is terrible and will not survive in the MLB.
he’s a troll
If you’ll go back and check the season numbers the Braves pitchers have pitched more solid performances with Flowers catching, including relievers. Yes he’s had problems hitting this year but when he’s hit balls into the corner or off the wall they haven’t ended up being singles. If you’ll check McCanns numbers you’ll see he’s been steadily declining at the plate for 2 months, he’s only thrown out 1 runner stealing all season and his pitch calling sucks. Even Keuchels best outings have been with Flowers catching. They said during the game Wednesday night that Flowers has the lower catchers era. Meaning there have been less earned runs given up by the pitchers with Flowers catching and that’s simply because he calls a better game than McCann does. I’ve always liked McCann but his game calling and pitch framing suck and he’s slower than my dead grandma.
Note to self: AA likes doing his business during the season.
basically the only off-season move he’s made is to get JD twice
Hope the disrespectful jack off flops!
Tyler Flowers is terrible so even if Mac is back Cervelli should replace Flowers sorry butt
“Emphatically quashed” is such a great phrase.
Would not be surprised if he takes a couple of foul tips off of his mask again and he lands back on the IL with another concussion. He got concussed by having a couple of balls off of his mask just this season.
Gotta give it to the Braves front office, the holes that have been created since the trade deadline they have filled with a quality veteran pretty fast. They are doing their part
Braves getting desperate. Who’s next? Bartolo Colon?
Teams can’t makes trades any more.. If a team feels that they need depth at a position, this is the only way it is going to happen now. Pickings are gonna be slim.
Not a bad depth signing
Next year bring McCann back & sign Austin Romine to split time
When Contreras is ready Romine is the mentor/backup
Or just get the rebuilding Giants to move Buster oh wait yeah he just means so much to the organization so they will never trade him. Meanwhile the twilight of his career will be playing on a god awful rebuilding team.
Giants really take care of their heros
What is the Pirates motivation for doing this?
If Cervelli had a chance to play a key role for another team, that would be one thing. Doing right by veterans helps you in free agency in the long run, but…
The value he could bring to Diaz and Stallings teaching them how to handle a staff (maybe it’s a coincidence that the Pirates pitching staff fell off a cliff after losing Cervelli and maybe it’s not) would seem to make it worth keeping him around for the ROS.
Diaz and Stallings have been around Frankie for a few years now. Probably has imparted as much wisdom as he probably could already.
I did not think of that pitching correlation Josh.
I have soured on Diaz as a catcher,and Stallings is basically a rookie.
I think that the Pirate did this same thing as a sort of favor to Sadler at the start of the year.
I do not mind them being nice to someone like Cervelli,who proved his worth when healthy.My first thought was that they are saving over $2M,but they are not.
Morally,if they are footing this extensive bill,they very well could have brought him up in September to play and mentor,since it does not seem that the coaches are doing their job.
As to gozurman’s point,he probably did “coach” those two guys,and if he did,then I wish him luck the rest of this year.
I’m a little unclear about his release status. I thought when a player was unconditionally released he did not have to go through waivers. This articles claims that he has been released but still must clear waivers. Good job to MLBTR for getting this so quick. Even now, several hours later, it is all over TV that Cervelli has been released by the Pirates but I haven’t heard anywhere that he is signing with Atlanta. If he does actually have to clear waivers and he is only owed around $3 mill the rest of the season wouldn’t that technically make the waiver process a little more than just a “formality?” I could see some team behind the Braves like Philadelphia, the Mets, DC, or with all their catching problems even the Cubs claiming him if for no other reason than to prevent him from going to the Braves. And if this article is correct and he truly does still have to go through waivers how would anyone know that he plans on signing with the Braves once he does? Seems like he could get claimed or just flat out change his mind and decide to sign as a back up for another team with an even better record than the Braves between now and then. Also… has anyone heard anything about how Contreras or Langoliers are doing? It would seem that with the Braves spending a top 9 overall draft pick on a college catcher that Langoliers would be the catcher of he future in their minds. Why not bring up Contreras now so he can hold it down until Langoliers gets here. Is Langoliers in the Braves minor league system yet or is he still playing out his final year in college? A lot of questions, I know, but if anyone has the answer to any or all of these I would love to find out.
why are all your posts so unnecessarily long?!…ever notice most don’t respond to what you say?…that’s the reason…bwhahaha
No team will pay him $2.5million for 6 weeks, especially not to just “screw” the Braves. It is uncertain if he will ever catch again, and as a glove/arm/framing guy he carries negative value as a DH/1B
Obviously he believes the Braves provide the best chance to play in Sept with expanded rosters and to make a post season roster
He has been catching in the minors on a rehab assignment.
The Pirates are on the hook for that money. Nobody will be paying that, they’ll only have to pay a prorated amount of a league minimum salary.
Contreras has been inconsistent for the most part. He hasn’t hit well and could probably deal with starting 2020 in AA again. He is far from ready.
Shea Langeliers is probably just tired from adjusting to a long season. He has split time between DH and catching but definitely has had some struggles with the bat (but not with out hope).
Guy thinks he’s better than the team. Don’t want him.
No evidence of this. Great team player. Always injured and lost his starting job plus rookie backup is hitting 290
No, you’re wrong there. This guy wears his heart on his sleeve.
Nice guy, positive team player but just can’t stay on the field. Maybe as a backup playing 1-2 times a week he can stay in the majors
I’ve been a big fan of Cisco’s since 2008.
The Braves couldn’t have gotten a better gamer. I only hope he stays healthy. And if he has anything left in the tank, he’ll be a welcome addition & fan favorite in Atlanta.
I like him a lot, kinda was hoping the phils would grab him as a back up… Knapp needs to go to sleep.
I think that Knapp was sleeping.But someone woke him up.
Knapp actually has been hitting much better recently.
He had a decent year last year or 2017.He may come around.
Scott Hatteberg called ……. great pickup!