The Braves announced that Charlie Culberson has been designated for assignment. The veteran utilityman will hit the DFA wire to make room for Chadwick Tromp, as Atlanta has called the catcher up from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Already a member of the Braves from 2018-20, Culberson spent the last two seasons with the Rangers before catching on with the Rays on a minor league deal this past offseason. He opted out of that deal towards the end of Spring Training and then signed a new minors contract with Atlanta, and the Braves selected Culberson’s contract to the active roster almost a month ago. Curiously, Culberson hasn’t played in even one game since being called up, so his latest stint with the Braves could end without an official appearance.
If Culberson clears waivers, he has enough MLB service time to reject an outright assignment to Triple-A and elect free agency. It’s possible the Georgia native might pass on the open market and instead remain in his hometown organization, or he could again seek a new job elsewhere given that the Braves don’t appear to have much of a role for him on their 26-man roster.
Culberson is a Major League game away from making it 11 seasons in the Show, as he has appeared in 585 games for five different teams at the big league level over parts of his previous 10 seasons. The 34-year-old has a career .248/.293/.386 slash line over 1311 career plate appearances, but is known more for his defensive versatility than hit bat. Culberson has played all over the infield and spent a lot of time as a left fielder, with a few appearances as a right fielder and even as a mop-up pitcher.
Sean Murphy is the other key player in today’s transaction, as the catcher left yesterday’s game with a right hamstring injury suffered while running the bases. Murphy underwent an MRI that showed some inflammation (Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was among those to report the news) but not any severe damage, so the Braves called up Tromp to provide catching depth while Murphy takes some time to recover.
Since Atlanta doesn’t play on Monday, we should know by Tuesday whether or not Murphy has healed well enough to return to action, or if a 10-day IL stint is ultimately required. Assuming that Culberson isn’t claimed on waivers, it’s possible his DFA is something of a handshake move that would see him accept an outright assignment with the promise of being called back to the Braves’ roster in a few days if Murphy does go on the IL.
What was all this for? Charlie never had a chance to play WTF?
All their infielders play every single game. Literally. Who is even the backup infielder? I don’t think they have one.
You saying their infielders play every game made me look, and good god they do. Half the NL leaders in games played are Braves guys. No DH appearances either, as old school as old school gets
So this was a mercy signing? The Braves couldn’t put him on the field one more time? Fans would have loved it it. Braves can keep Ozuna (puke) but can’t put Charlie on the field one more time?
Totally agree. Let the dang guy play left-field for one stinking game!
But the point is to try to win.lol. They likely thought he’d have to fill in but he never did. They already have a good backup/platoon LF who doesn’t get enough at bats in Pillar and say what you want about Rosario but he is up to a 104 OPS+. On another note I think it’s misleading that Ozuna has a positive WAR and Rosario is at -0.1 because the only reason Ozuna has positive WAR is they wouldn’t dare put him in the outfield and Rosario and Pillar can’t ever DH because they insist on giving Ozuna every DH at bat. At least D’arnaud is getting some at bats finally
@Rishi, you are the reason baseball is no longer fun…
You seem to think the fans care about Charlie Culbertson. I don’t think many do. A few I’m sure. They already let the guy be apart of the broadcast team last season and let him come up to the majors despite hitting atrociously in minors. He isn’t some long time beloved idol. He was good one season as a backup.
How is Rishi’s analysis of the game making it no longer fun? I feel like the deep insight is interesting and makes you think about potential alignment options! Baseball is fun no matter what.
He’s all about stats, I like people nuff said
Culberson has always been fan favorite, just likeable dude who’s not the greatest ballplayer but always gives his all, just an ol skool gamer, kno when he was w/Dodgers fans loved em n he just seems to come up w/timely hit or play when needed, he’s also been fan favorite in Atlanta, have read he’s great clubhouse guy too
I’m certainly not “all about stats”. Bringing them up doesn’t mean that. You’re projecting your ideas about modern baseball people onto me. Of course I use stats. I also am a fan. I routinely (even in this thread) talk about how certain stats are bias. I personally just don’t feel that way about Culbertson (I never connected with him that way). I feel that way about perhaps Nick Green or Brooks Conrad-guys who didn’t have super impressive stats but left a legacy to me as a fan personally. I feel that way about Rosario, tho he’s better than those guys. We are all different.
Actually what I’m “all about” is winning. Also making guys earn things and giving people what they’ve earned. He didn’t earn a call-up in the first place. Certainly a productive player shouldn’t have a single at bat taken away from him for a guy to make a cameo who shouldn’t even be on the team.
Stats make the game more interesting. Basic stats, sabermetrics, statcast… the game is fun no matter which ones you look at or if you use all of them to form an analysis. If you like people over stats, surely you realize stats are part of the player in sports and that it’s impossible to separate the two–especially in baseball.
I enjoyed his analysis, and it gave me a snapshot of the players involved. There is definitely a need for stats analysis. A player’s personality, and interpersonal style and ability to contribute to a team are also important. However, these measures are subjective, and can’t really be made accurately by the fan in the stadium, watching TV, or contributing to a comments section. Whether a player is a nice guy shouldn’t be the first thing a manager should think about. It’s a tie-breaker at best.
Charlie’s father was supposed to throw out the first pitch in yesterday’s game (6/18) for Father’s Day. They had to cancel him due to Charlie being DFA’d. Awkward.
He had an OPS under 500 in 107 pa in minors. He was literally up to be some kind of extra coach/clubhouse guy. It would be wrong to take at bats from another guy. He’s lucky he even got to come back up.
Well if Ozuna is gonna hit as he’s has since May while making 18 mil then yea the Braves are going to play him and Ozuna did good work helping Michael Harris get out of his struggles. I love Charlie but he isn’t what he was in 2018 to 2020. He will clear waivers and head back to Gwinnett and may get back on the big league club if someone gets hurt again in the infield.
I’m not saying they shouldn’t play Marcell. He’s been good. I’m just saying his lack of defensive ability is detrimental to the team but the stats like WAR reward him simply for being too bad to play in the field (because he can’t accumulate bad defensive numbers) while Rosario is at least passable in LF but supposedly has been below replacement level because his somewhat sub-par defense hurts his value and he can’t DH ever because Ozuna can’t play outfield. Really Rosario has been more valuable because he’s fielding (even if it is a bit sub-par). Ozuna handcuffs the team in a way at DH (they need that spot to get D’arnaud at bats and to rest guys)
Part of the reason Braves have a great record is Ozuna. Charlie was never close to as good at Ozuna in his best day
Yeah, they blew out the Rockies again yesterday but couldn’t even put Charlie in for an inning or two to give somebody a little break.
I was rooting for Charlie to come in as a pitcher once again
They thought it was better to have him back the infield up with no playing time than Grissom or Shoemake. Everyone knew he won’t last on the team
What was all this for? They don’t think he’s one of the 26 best. With Murphy missing some time (hamstring) they can’t rely on d’Arnaud as only C, when he himself missed time recently (concussion) & hasn’t played consecutive days since back until yesterday (when Murphy left due to injury).
I wonder if the Braves are considering a reunion by next signing Hunter Pence out of retirement?
Did reunion change meanings overnight? There was never a union. Braves are Sic Pence None the Richer.
I don’t think it’s changed meanings overnight, but I’m not a lexicographer.
I do know that Tromp and Pence we’re on the SF Giants roster in 2020. Check the interwebs for yourself if you don’t believe me.
And bless your Gospel Rock lovin’ heart.
Someone will snatch him !
4 paragraphs on Charlie Culbertson and still “more to come”? He was on the team for a good bit of time but you would never have known it unless you looked in the dugout.
And the last week it was his life size cardboard cutout leaning against the dugout rail while he was in the Clubhouse playing MLB: The Show.
Sorry, Charlie.
Tuna, I get it DC. Charlie made baseball human. Just like everything around us, it’s eroding. and disintegrating
Hang in there, Curls. We can all get through this together.
I am in seriously doubt mode, but thanks for the uplift
Dang and his dad apparently threw out the first pitch….that’s cold smh. Happy Father’s Day sheesh
Nvm they switched it to Michael Harris’s dad last minute…still that’s pretty rough
The Braves should have let them do it anyway. Maybe the younger Culbertson was too pissed to do it anyway, but for the Braves to stiff his dad is cold. There are other teams would have let it happen anyway. Boo to the Braves front office!
OK, that absolutely sucks. Then again, they could have/perhaps should have waited on the action with Culbertson.
The Dodgers should pick him up! They can play him ANYWHERE!! Most spots are up for grabs
Preferably out of the bullpen. He can’t do any worse than most of those arsonists.
I’m gonna help out Snit a little bit here. When questioned about his non-usage of Culberson over the past month, just say “The best insurance policy is one you never have to use.”
Dude got cut the day his dad was going to throw out the first pitch. Happy Father’s Day