The Braves are signing infielder Daniel Robertson to a minor league contract, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (Twitter link). The MVP Sports Group client had been a free agent since the Rays released him at the end of Spring Training.
Robertson, 29, logged big league action each season from 2017-21. The majority of that time came in Tampa Bay, where Robertson had the best year of his career in 2018. Through 88 games, the righty-hitting infielder posted a .262/.382/.415 line while walking at an excellent 12.6% clip. He slumped to a .213/.312/.295 slash in 73 contests the next season, leading the Rays to designate him for assignment going into 2020.
The former 34th overall draftee saw time with the Giants and Brewers over the next couple seasons. He combined to hit only .164/.303/.274 in 90 trips to the plate. Robertson spent last season in Triple-A with the Phillies and Twins but didn’t hit well at either stop. He posted a .172/.250/.207 showing through 29 Spring Training at-bats in a brief return to the Rays’ organization this year.
In spite of falling on some hard times in recent seasons, Robertson owns a reasonable .227/.338/.345 line in parts of five big league campaigns. He’s continued to draw plenty of walks even as his strikeout tallies have mounted over the past couple years. He’s a .240/.337/.342 hitter in just under 1000 trips to the plate in Triple-A.
Robertson has logged over 4000 minor league innings at shortstop and has ample experience at second and third base as well. He’ll add some upper minors infield depth, presumably joining prospect Braden Shewmake and fairly recent big leaguers Hoy Park, Charlie Culberson, Joe Dunand, Joshua Fuentes and Yolmer Sánchez at Triple-A Gwinnett.
I like turtles
Looks like Grissom will be traded this deadline.
Or he’s just not really a long term option at shortstop, still.
And I thought I had to pay for this kind of expert analysis here. Take my money.
You think? That’s a rare quality on the internet.
Still has one more chance to prove himself in the Majors.
Shame about Arcia. He was definitely claiming the job.
I want him back.
AAA Gwinnett better win the AAA Championship with all this former MLB players.
How about Strider tonight, huh guys!?!?
Holy smokin’ vuhginas…lol (If you don’t get the reference, look up Michael Harris’ live post from their World Series celebration..haha)
We needed a win like that last night. Let’s get Travis and Money Mike back along with those dudes down in the BP and take off again. Houston series was tough to watch. They literally let Alvarez beat them. Say goodbye to Ozuna, dude looks absolutely cooked in the box and I know all those boos are getting in his head.
@bravesnc. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ozuna is released soon. Almost unbelievable how bad he is doing at this point. Hilliard is looking like the latest bargain bin win and Soroka is quietly making his way back. Sounds like McHugh is nearing a return as well. Just wait till all the guys are back on the big team. Even yet the Braves still hold first place.
@MFFREE. A platoon of Hilliard/Pillar provide actual value. Hell even Rosario has had some knocks and contributed something. Get McHugh back and get Iglesias right to slide in the 9th and we should hold our own. If Soroka can get on a roll in Gwinnett why not a 6 man Rotation to keep these guys fresh? They are on a 17 game straight run without a off day. Need Strider and Fried hitting on all cylinders come Aug/Sept for that final push. Starting pitching gets it done late in the season and postseason and we got the Horses if they can stay fresh for a deep run come Oct. I remember back in 2018 when we were talking about Soroka as the ace and Fried was very good. If he can return to form and Kyle pitches to his stuff that’s a 4 headed monster. Let’s go Bravos!
Astute forecast from the northern Carolinian!