The Marlins optioned Bryan De La Cruz, Nick Fortes, Alex Jackson, and Lewin Diaz to Triple-A, per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Diaz’s demotion might raise an eyebrow or two, but Jesus Aguilar and Garrett Cooper have first base covered at the big league level. De La Cruz’s demotion is the more surprising of the bunch, as the 25-year-old was thought to be in contention for at-bats in center field after posting a 115 wRC+ in 219 plate appearances last year.
Of course, Miami’s well-advertised desire to add a center fielder might have been clue enough to suggest the organization did not expect De La Cruz to be “the guy” in center. Offseason additions Jorge Soler and Avisail Garcia have the outfield corners locked down, while Jesus Sanchez becomes the frontrunner to start opening day in center. Brian Anderson will see time in the outfield as well, while Jon Berti will backup center. Delino DeShields and Roman Quinn remain in competition for a roster spot, notes Joe Frisaro of Man On Second Baseball (via Twitter). In other roster moves…
- The Pirates have optioned top pitching prospect Roansy Contreras to Triple-A, one of a number of roster moves made in anticipation of opening day. Yerry De Los Santos, Enmanuel Mejia, Hunter Stratton, and southpaw Blake Weiman were also reassigned to minor league camp, per the team. Contreras, the former Yankees’ farmhand, is the prospect of particular note here, the Pirates’ fourth-ranked prospect, per Baseball America. The 22-year-old made his Major League debut in 2021 in a scoreless, 3-inning outing, but he was not expected to make the opening day rotation. After all, though he made his debut, he also made just one start in Triple-A last season, spending most of the year in Double-A, pitching to a 2.65 ERA/2.74 FIP across 54 1/3 innings spanning 12 starts.
- The Braves reassigned Brad Brach and Michael Harris II to minor league camp, the team announced. Brach posted a 3.05 ERA over 415 appearances from 2012 to 2018 with the Padres, Orioles, and Braves. In the three years since, however, Brach has struggled to a 5.77 ERA with the Mets, Cubs, and Reds. In Cincinnati last season, Brach logged a 6.30 ERA/5.04 FIP in 30 innings over 35 appearances. Harris, 21, slashed .294/.362/.436 in 420 plate appearances in High-A last season.
Not sure why Bryan de la Cruz wouldn’t be on the opening day roster after he played well last year ever since we acquired him at the trade deadline.
Sometimes it feels like our front office overthinks things and takes away opportunities from our young players before they have a chance to even struggle or lose the spot. I get that some philosophies make teams favor vets, but sending a kid down that has performed so far for the team is odd.
The Marlins don’t view De La Cruz as a Center Fielder and not knowing how well Sanchez will play the position one of Roman Quinn/Delino DeShields almost has to make the roster
@Rsox
Fair statement, but it looks like Berti will make the roster too. Maybe a numbers game with what you point out as well, but it’s still odd to send a kid down that has done the job since acquired.
The signing of Jorge Soler probably did De La Cruz in, for now
I’m guessing the Marlins bench looks something like:
Backup Catcher Payton Henry/Willians Astudillo
IF Joey Wendle
IF/OF John Berti
OF Quinn/DeShields
With Garrett Cooper also able to play the OF and Astudillo’s ability to move around the Infield (if he makes the team) the Marlins have some pretty good versatility
Yeah, Payton Henry looks like the 2nd catcher now that Jackson and Fortes are headed down. Henry is defense first. After the last few years of Alfaro, I think everyone from the fan base, to the Miami media, and in the Marlins organization prefer defensive catchers working with our young staff.
I figured Astudillo was going to make the team, especially with the two extra spots. He’s a good rotations option coming off the bench with his contact ability. He fits the Marlins’ Small Ball efforts of putting the ball in play.
Wendle was a lock.
I’m surprised Berti will make the roster because I thought Wendle was his upgraded replacement in the infield. But Berti is a super-utility guy with all of the positions and his baserunning.
For 4th OF, yes it’s between Quinn and DeShields now.
With Cooper, I figured he’d make the roster to build up his trade value and allow Lewin Diaz a little more time to improve his hitting beyond the power-only game. However, Cooper get’s hurt again, Lewin or de la Cruz are the favorites to be up to take Cooper’s spot permanently.
I guess @MarlinsFanGirl doesn’t know as much about his team as he touts. Dude’s been talking up de la Cruz all winter. Ha.
De La Cruz got stuck in a numbers game. The team is loaded with corner Outfielders and and they obviously are going to go with the veterans they signed. Better to let the young player get regular AB’s in the minors then sit on the bench in the majors
Overthinks? Just ask any of the regimes over the last 20+ years, and they’ll tell you they’re the smartest people in the room. They dont need to overthink to come up with their obviously proven brilliant, innovative strategies. Those revelations come straight from the surface level
@formerlyz
You may need to clarify that a little.
The Marlins have long been incredibly smug
Anthony Castrovince posted this article, “Who ‘won the winter’? 6 teams with the best moves” on the MLB site.
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-teams-that-had-best-2022-offseason
Golly, the Yankees weren’t mentioned.
I have absolutely no idea what this organization is doing. They don’t seem to know either. Overpaid two different outfielders, and one who is a career replacement level player in order to block guys who have shown very good potential and actual performance. No idea why this team would build up the farm with top prospects to then just play veterans who are terrible. Such a confusing approach.
My growing suspicion is that Cashman has the mentality of an insecure gambler whose moves are directed by a fear of making mistakes. I suspect this is what underlies his preference for “proven” players, even when they’re injury-prone and aging, and/or don’t fit the profile of what the team actually needs to achieve balance.
Guess Michael Harris needs “extra seasoning” for a few weeks like Acuña
Harris hasn’t even reached Double-A yet. Acuna had played 54 games at Triple-A in 2017. There’s a pretty big difference.
Right, Michael Harris looks like a young stud, but let’s pump the brakes, the dude hasn’t even played a game in AA!!
The success, or lack thereof of Cristian Pache should serve as a reminder why its not always a good idea to rush prospects. Especially one’s who haven’t even played above A yet
Spring training is odd when you think about it. On one hand, it’s a great opportunity to let prospect play against real talent, especially prospects that may be worth something. On the other, you have to get your guys ready, even if they aren’t long term answers, for the regular season. For example, Harris would prob be a lot better an option than some of the guys still in the spring roster. BB prob should have gotten a longer look though
Even if they go with a 15 man pitching staff Brad Brach isn’t sniffing the roster..
With a 14 man staff they still have to decide who makes the last two to three spots between Jacob Webb, Tyler Thornburg, Sean Newcomb, and Darren O’Day….
Everyone else is a complete lock, and the only other options are whether they start out with a 5 or 6 man rotation, and go with Morton, Fried, Anderson, Wright, and Ynoa, or if they go with 6 and add Kyle Muller…
Even still, they are a strong roughly 10 deep in their pen, there is no place for Brad Bach anywhere near their bullpen while everyone is healthy…Now, if they have a couple injuries, and he’s doing solid work in AAA, then okay, but before then no thank you…
Jansen
W.Smith
T.Matzek
AJ Minter
C. McHugh
L. Jackson
And then the previously mentioned four, if I’m not forgetting anyone else like Touki or T.Davidson for long relief..
Brad Bach… Brad Brach…samething lol
Plus, come later in the year they will have Kirby Yates, and they’ll also have a rookie on an innings limit like the 100mph+ filthy Spencer Strider…
Touki got optioned to AAA. It wouldn’t surprise me if Newcomb gets released.
Newcomb has another outing like his last one, especially if all his other competitors are putting up mostly zeroes, then you’re probably right…
Idk, honestly it is probably time either way, I think the guy desperately needs a new change of scenery and a fresh start somewhere else…
Clearly, everything they’ve tried with Newcomb, nothing ever works long enough for him to he sustainably good, so for his sake and the Braves sake, I say he should just he let go anyways…
I’d much rather take the chance that Thornburg and O’Day are healthy and performing well, or even take the chance on Jacob Webb and his excellent change-up over Newcomb and his irratic self from one appearance to the next.
Honestly, I highly doubt that Snitker could ever trust him with a lead anyways, and he’d likely only extend a deficit if the Braves are losing, so what is the point??
If he wants to take a MiL deal after being released, then work him out of the pen in AAA, but he wouldn’t be making the AAA rotation either..
Especially not with Muller, Strider, Elder, Davidson, and one or two of Alan Rangel, Hayden Deal, Odalvi Javier, or Nolan Kingham rounding out the rotation..
Plus, then they will have a few guys down in AA who will get the call to AAA after maybe a month or two of solid starts like Freddy Tarnok, Jared Shuster, Victor Vodnik, or Darius Vines…
Which, clearly Newk has the higher upside than some of those aforementioned minor leaguers, but at this point they have enough quality depth, to where he isn’t above taking another prospects innings…
Anyone else read FF latest letter to fans stating that his relationship with AA is great and that he got caught up in his feelings during his Dodgers presser? I said it in another post. His agents screwed the guy and got bailed out by the Dodgers. Dude is making the same amount over 6 yrs that he could have made over 5. In the process AA re-directed fire and used the cash to lockup Olson, sign Thorny, Jansen, etc,etc. it all needs to play out but dude got played by his reps. Those Chipper comments to Buster Olney were spot on.
You’re just itching to prove to strangers that FF still loves you.
@bravesnation. After watching the podcast with Chipper (which I have no reason not to believe Chipper) and watching Freddie’s expressions during his Dodgers intro press conference. I put this squarely on Freddie. He said he want to be a career Brave but his actions spoke otherwise. He refused to negotiate after spring training in 2021. Then he had after the World Series to the lockout. Then after the lockout till the Matt Olson trade. While his agents might have gave a ultimatum on their own I find that doubtful as well. I think Freddie thought he had AA over a barrel and AA simply had to move on and construct a team. Eddie Rosario spoke directly with AA to get his deal done. Maybe Freddie is a great baseball player but a fool? Personally I have lost all respect for Freddie and I expect he will be booed upon return to Truist. Had a chance to be a Braves legend and blew it.
Sometimes the chance to play at home outweighs something as trivial as being a “Braves legend”.
I’d rather be home, play with my kids everyday and have my 90 year old grandfather in the stands every game than be a legend in some hick town.
Some commenters like books just love to argue with people on here. I see 3 comments all doing the same. Nothing constructive.
“Wahhhhhhhh”
That incel has some sort of learning disability. Just ignore him.
Your handle pays homage to a racist. Who’s the incel?
how Newcombe not been demoted,or released is beyond me.Must have pictures
Look I have no animosity towards Freddie or Alex. This is a business and when players make it to free agency it’s hard to say where they will ultimately end up!!! Do I think there should have been a more communication between the two? Absolutely, I think the Olson trade caught FF off guard but I think Alex’s thinking was that he didn’t want to miss the chance that they lose out on both Olson and FF and end up without a great 1B. That’s where the personal communication and experience with each other should have come in. FF said before and after the lockout that Justin turner and pretty much everyone associated with the dodgers where constantly in contact with him and I think the Olson trade sealed the deal he would be a Dodger. I truly think that FF agent was hoping he would end up in a bigger city market for maybe more potential for marketing deals and such and they could also make more money off of those potential deals maybe in their eyes not available in ATL. Who really knows their reasoning? I think FF agency really overplayed their hand and when the Braves were out so was NYY and TB And Tor and it pretty much left LA as the only team. I think his agency wanted to get a little more money out of the deal but they screwed the pooch and LA ultimately bailed Freddie’s agent out. It’s def a weird dynamic but you can’t put all of this simply on FF himself. Especially if you accept that his agent and Alex both had a job to do and maybe some signals got crossed. FF gave Braves fans 12 years of his heart and soul and stuck through tough times when the team was crap and in the end he won an MVP and got Braves fans the Natty we all wanted. So if I’m lucky enough to be in ATL when the Dodgers come to town. I will applaud Freddie for all he has done for the Atlanta Braves over the years and no booing will come from me.