The Braves are in agreement with free agent utilityman Chad Pinder, reports Robert Murray of FanSided (Twitter link). It’ll be a minor league contract, tweets Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
It’s the third minor league deal of the season for the longtime A’s utilityman. He signed with the Reds over the winter but struggled in Spring Training, hitting just .103/.167/.154. After being informed he wouldn’t make the Opening Day roster, he opted out and quickly signed with the Nationals. Pinder spent a little over a month in the Washington system playing for Triple-A Rochester. He hit .218/.308/.309 over 62 plate appearances before being released last week.
While it hasn’t been the best start to the year, Pinder brings plenty of upper level experience. He played for Oakland between 2016-22, compiling a .242/.294/.417 line over 553 games. He’s struggled to reach base — particularly against right-handed pitching — but offers some power when holding the platoon advantage. Pinder is a career .264/.322/.456 hitter against lefties.
On the other side of the ball, the 31-year-old is capable of covering virtually anywhere on the diamond. Pinder has over 250 innings of big league experience at each of second base, third base and shortstop and in both corner outfield positions. The majority of his time has been spent at the keystone and in the outfield corners. He’ll add a versatile right-handed bat to the upper minors.
Over/under on how long he is with the Braves organization?
I give it a month.
I’ll take the under. When the A’s and Reds can’t find a spot for you, you’re not going to be with anyone else for long.
He is depth but I think it shows is Atlanta is going leave Grissom in AAA rest of year so if a injuries happen he could be up to be a bench player while Grissom works on figuring his future out with Atlanta.
maybe AAA depth. Braves have 5 Lfers on the roster and have Adrianza, who is nearly the same person just less power.
Is North Korea really a threat?
He’s been cut by the A’s, Reds, and Nationals in the last year. That’s pretty rough.
Am I the only one who thought the Joe Jiménez trade was an uncharacteristically awful move by AA? Justyn Henry Malloy looks like he could have solved their LF issue as soon as this season.
LF isn’t an issue for the Braves.
Yes. And I thought so at the time it was made. Still feel the same way. I was high on him – The guy is an OBP machine, and we gave him up for a rental reliever who hasn’t impressed me in the slightest.
Yes, it’s just you and other uneducated rubes.
I don’t think the Braves have Pinder hopes on him entirely.
paleobros
):^0
This seems like a good move to give us a true backup infielder off the bench while Ehire is on the IL. Also allows Braves to move Shewmake back to minors so he can get regular playing time. There is no point in using either of the young SS as a backup when the Braves basically send out same lineup every day. Before Ehire was placed on IL he only appeared in 5 games so not like we will see much of Pinder.
So we won’t have a Pindemic?