10:45am: As expected, Luetge has indeed opted to remain with the Braves and accept his outright assignment, writes Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
9:35am: The Braves announced Tuesday that left-handed reliever Lucas Luetge went unclaimed on outright waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett. Atlanta also announced this morning that right-hander Roddery Munoz will be recalled from Triple-A, setting the stage for the 23-year-old reliever’s big league debut. They had an open 40-man spot after optioning righty Michael Soroka yesterday.
The 36-year-old Luetge, who’d been designated for assignment over the weekend, has the right to reject that assignment in favor of free agency by virtue of both Major League service time (four-plus years) and a prior outright assignment in his career. However, because he doesn’t yet have five years of MLB service, electing free agency would mean forfeiting the remainder of this year’s $1.55MM salary. As such, it seems quite likely he’ll accept and remain in the Braves organization without occupying a spot on the 40-man roster.
Luetge joined the Braves over the winter in a trade that sent minor league infielder Caleb Durbin and minor league reliever Indigo Diaz back to the Yankees. Luetge had been somewhat of a surprise DFA by the Yankees, but the decision to move on from the lefty in exchange for a pair of mid-level minor leaguers — both of whom have played well thus far in 2023 — looks defensible given Luetge’s struggles in 2023.
Thus far, Luetge has appeared in nine games with the Braves but been tagged for 11 runs on 15 hits and six walks through just 9 2/3 frames. After striking out a quarter of his opponents against a 5.8% walk rate in two years with the Yankees, the southpaw has fanned a diminished 22.2% of his opponents and issued walks to 13.3% of them. It’s a small sample, but Luetge has also seen his swinging-strike rate plummet from 12.7% to just 8.1%, while the velocity on his cutter has dipped to a career-low 87.1 mph.
Luetge also spent more than a month on the injured list with inflammation in his left biceps, so it’s possible there’s a physical reason for this year’s struggles. Whatever the root of the issue, he’ll now quite likely look to get back on track with the Braves’ Gwinnett affiliate and earn another look in the big leagues.
As for Munoz, he’s moved to the bullpen in 2023 after spending the majority of his prior professional career as a starter. The Braves signed the 6’2″ righty out of the Dominican Republic back in 2018, and he’s pitched his way into becoming one of the more promising arms in a relatively thin Braves system. Baseball America and MLB.com ranked him 22nd and 21st among Atlanta farmhands, respectively, both touting a potentially plus slider and mid-90s heater. Munoz’s changeup is regarded as a below-average pitch, however, and his command has clear room for refinement.
So far in 2023, Munoz has split the season between Double-A and Triple-A, working to a combined 4.94 ERA in 27 1/3 frames. He’s walked nearly as many of his 126 opponents (20) as he’s struck out (24). He’s avoided home runs and kept the ball on the ground at a strong 46% clip, but it’s been a tough season on the whole. That said, he’s allowed just one run and fanned 14 over his past 11 innings, albeit with seven walks and a pair of hit batters in that time continuing to shine a light on his sub-par command.
I’m surprised he went unclaimed but with the way he’s pitched, maybe nobody wants to try to figure him out.
Decline seems injury related. He’ll probably provide some valuable outs for the Braves at some point this season.
If Luetke pitches anymore ML IPs this season for ATL, it’s a worst-case scenario.
A trade that didn’t have they worst possible outcome for NY. Woohoo!
They let go Luetge!
Interesting career for Luetge. Major league action from 2012-2014, one game in 2015, nothing for five years, returns to the majors in 21-22 and pitches much better than before, and now this down year. Not too many guys have a five (essentially six) year gap between MLB appearances, to say nothing of having such a gap and returning to the bigs as a much better player. Difficult not to root for the guy.
It;s kind of weird that a 36 year old guy with 3 full seasons and 4 partial seasons doesn’t have the right to refuse a minor league gig and keep his money. I understand why it is the case, but it just seems wrong. I can understand an under-performing 27 year old being sent down to play with kids, but a 36 year old guy is not likely to improve enough to come back. To me, it seems like the Braves should just release him instead of taking a minor league roster spot away from a younger guy.
Perhaps they can negotiate an age cutoff for service time for the next CBA. I don’t see why Luetge would turn down guaranteed money at this stage of his career. I think the Braves still want to use him. 9.2 IP is a tiny sample size.
Oh I completely understand why Luetge doesn’t turn it down. That very easily could be his final chance at a million dollar paycheck.
As far as the Braves go, I think they are bigger upsides out there to take that spot. And if you ended up needing a guy like Luetge, you could probably pick him up in a trade for cash.
He is going to get paid $1.55 million to play in 3A after posting a 10 era in MLB this year. If him, his agent and family thought he could get signed by another team to an MLB deal he would do it. Of course at this point in season he would be getting more than likely a pro rated league min. Why would the Braves just release a guy who maybe he improves in 3A and injuries require the team to add him back to 40 man and call him up? It is business not.
Good luck Roddery Munoz!!!!!
Good lucky Roddery Munoz!!!!!
Roddery Munoz
Armed Roddery.
Played in 7 season that account of 4 accredited years. Has made $4 million counting this year so I would think he will stay with Braves and who knows may get added back if he does well in 3A. Not sure if everyone knows or cares but the magic number in baseball is 43 days. Each 43 days is a quarter of season towards service time and pension a player has to be there for at least that many days to get a quarter and every year has a total of 4. Now this amounts to 172 days but the season I believe is 187 days long it is just how the MLBPA and MLB agreed to it. I guess in some ways it helps guys like this and young guys who come up during the season by being able to get service time throughout year. 10 years or 40 quarters is magic number for max out of pension.