The Braves have announced several roster moves in advance of today’s Rule 5 protection deadline. Infielder Braden Shewmake as well as right-handers Roddery Munoz and Darius Vines have been added to the club’s 40-man roster. In corresponding moves, outfielder Guillermo Heredia as well as right-handers William Woods and Silvino Bracho were designated for assignment.
Heredia’s DFA should come as little surprise, given that he was an obvious non-tender candidate on the heels of a .158/.220/.342 showing in 82 plate appearances with the Braves this season. While the 31-year-old can handle all three outfield spots and has at times looked the part of a solid, short-side platoon player in his seven-year Major League career, he’s never shed the part-time player label and owns just a .231/.310/.346 batting line in 1566 career plate appearances.
Woods, 23, tossed a pair of scoreless innings in his big league debut this season but was torched for a 6.04 ERA in 25 1/3 innings across three minor league levels as well. The former 23rd-rounder also gave up a dozen runs in 12 2/3 innings during this year’s Arizona Fall League.
Bracho was acquired from the Red Sox for cash over the summer and surrendered three runs in 4 1/3 innings for the Braves. The longtime D-backs righty posted a strong 2.67 ERA in 57 1/3 innings between the Triple-A affiliates for Boston and Atlanta, including a particularly impressive 70-to-10 K/BB ratio. The Braves would’ve had to pay him slightly north of the big league minimum as an arb-eligible player, however, and Bracho’s status as a journeyman who’s thrown just 5 1/3 Major League innings since 2018 — in part due to Tommy John surgery — always left him as a likely non-tender candidate.
Not protecting Vodnik was a little bit of a surprise. Heredia, aside from camaraderie, was useless.
He was good defensive replacement at any outfield position. But you’re right, an absolute zero with the bat.
He’s been inconsistent and hurt the last several years not likely anyone takes the gamble on him
Vodnik was one to watch but he’s been hurt a lot. Doubt anyone takes a chance on him although it wouldn’t shock me
I will be really surprised if Verlander doesn’t end up on either the Braves or Yankees. He’s from the east coast, he already has accomplished more than 99.8% of MLB players in history.. Gotta imagine he wants to be relatively close to home and bring home yet another championship.
Maybe his old pal Cole with help bring him over.
William Woods, the mirror-universe Woody Williams.
No surprise here. We need a SS. Let’s figure it out AA.
Vaughn Grissom would likely be their Opening Day short stop, and I could imagine seeing AA grab someone like an Elvis Andrus or Iglesias as a veteran pairing to go with Vaughn.
Obviously, it wouldn’t be the sexiest move out there, but SS typically don’t age very weĺl defensively nor offensively.
Signing Carlos Correa or Dansby (both 28), and/or Turner (29) would likely require at least a 6-8 year deal, and the backends of those deals aren’t likely to age very well with them each being roughly 34-35 or older..
Id say keep Vaughn Grissom, sign Iglesias for cheap, go after Haniger or Mancini for LF, make a salary dumping deal by trading away Ozuna and attaching him to a lower level recent early round draftee, then they’ll just need to go after DeGrom, and makensome minor moves around the edges to add some MiL depth, shore up their bench, and shore up their pen…
Lineup:
R.Acuña Jr. RF
O.Albies 2B
A.Riley 3B
M.Haniger/T.Mancini LF
Olson 1B
T. d’Arnaud
M.Harris CF
W.Contreras DH
V. Grissom SS
Bench:
M.Pina C
D.Solano UT
E.Rosario OF
A.Duvall OF
J.Iglesias SS
Rotation:
1. J.DeGrom
2. Max Fried
3. Kyle Wright
4. Charlie Morton
5. Spencer Strider
AAA Depth of Kyle Muller, Freddy Tarnok, and Bryce Elder with tremendous upside wildcards like Ian Anderson and Mike Soroka..
Bullpen
Maybe resign old buddy Craig Kimbrel with a hometown discount having him mox and match with he likes of:
R. Iglesias Closer
AJ Minter 8th SU
C. Kimbrel 8th SU
C. McHugh MR-7th (high leverage)
D. Lee LH specialist with ability to get out RHB
N. Anderson bounce back candidate for MR
K. Yates bb candidate for MR
J. Chavez Long relief, multi-inning, versatile vet
L.Jackson bb candidate, who could move back into a MR role
What do you all think??
What is DeGrom asking for? If I had the choice between him and Verlander that would be easy JV. Kimbrel he has struggled last few season coming home to Atlanta maybe as a set up man or 6-7th inning guy maybe he is successful in that role. He shouldn’t cost too much aging relief pitcher who hasn’t produced much. I think it will be more than likely Duvall and Rosario splitting time in left next season. Depending on Duvall’s contract wants. Don’t forget the Braves tv deal which sucks ends after 2027 season Braves will be due a big increase which could make the back end of deals a little more affordable.
Braves won’t spend that cash. They already have a deep rotation and always seem to pull a rookie or some odd ball move that works out. If he was a reliever AA would be all over him.
Tad surprised to see woods DFA’d and Munoz protected. I mean, someone is more likely to claim woods before Munoz is drafted via rule 5. Lol unless I missed an injury report, woods could provide value this year and Munoz definitely won’t. So again, a bit surprising
Heredia is fun and think a great teammate wouldn’t be surprise if he gets a minor league offer. Way the Braves play the bench other than catcher see a lot of game action. Duvall maybe resigned if he doesn’t ask for a lot and will split time with Eddie in left. Harris and Acuna will of course take the other two spots every day. The Braves will want or need someone as a back up center fielder but we will see how it plays out. I figure Braves will either trade and eat most of Ozuna’s remaining deal, take on another teams bad deal or just release him but I do not believe he will be in Atlanta next season.