The Braves signed outfielder Jordan Luplow to a minor league deal last Wednesday, according to his transaction log on MLB.com. Luplow, a client of ALIGND Sports Agency, signed with Atlanta last offseason, too, but was designated for assignment before playing a game on the big league squad. He split the rest of his season between the Blue Jays’ and Twins’ organizations.
Luplow began his career with the Pirates, who selected him in the third round of the 2014 draft. After two seasons with Pittsburgh in 2017 and ’18, the 30-year-old outfielder was traded three times in three years, first to the Guardians, then to the Rays, and finally to the Diamondbacks. His best performance came in 2019, his first year in Cleveland, when the righty batter hit 15 home runs in 85 games, slashing .276/.372/.551. Unfortunately, he struggled in the pandemic-shortened season, lost much of the following year to an ankle injury, and produced what was arguably the worst performance of his career the year after that. The veteran hit .176 with a .634 OPS across 83 games in 2022, and the D-backs DFA’d him in November.
Shortly thereafter, Luplow elected free agency and signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Braves. However, he was cut five days into the season, having played just three games at Triple-A Gwinnett. The Blue Jays scooped him up off waivers but didn’t have much big league playing time to offer; Luplow played 48 games at Triple-A Buffalo and only 7 with Toronto. The Jays DFA’d Luplow after the trade deadline, and this time the Twins came calling. They had more opportunities for Luplow, getting him into 32 big league games over the final two months of the season, but left him off the postseason roster in October. Overall, he hit .208 with a .647 OPS in 39 MLB games last season, while slashing .237/.342/.418 across 54 contests in the minors.
Although his offensive numbers have been uninspiring for several years now, Luplow has always drawn walks at a high rate, and his career splits against left-handed pitching are rather impressive (33 home runs and an .833 OPS in 565 PA), even if his 2019 season is doing most of the heavy lifting in that department. What’s more, his strong arm and slightly above-average speed make him a capable option in an outfield corner.
Atlanta has one of the most talented rosters in the league, but there could be a spot for Luplow if he shines in Spring Training. Forrest Wall is currently penciled in as the fourth outfielder, but the long-time minor leaguer only has 15 MLB plate appearances under his belt. What’s more, the Braves currently have just 12 position players on their 40-man roster, and they’re surely planning to add more before Opening Day.
Minors hot stove is on fire this offseason. Might need to send the fire department before it turns into a 5-alarm fire.
I wonder if they have the domain: minorleaguetraderumors.com registered? Actually I just checked and it is not. Get on it Tim!! Before I buy it for $11 bucks on godaddy.
@TrumboRedux
Don’t you mean milbtraderumors.com?
Old York, yeah that one is available too.
To quote Shania Twain:
“That don’t impress me much.”
Is she the one who is dating the TE on the Chiefs?? Mousy brown hair right?? Plays guitar?
@TrumboRedux,
Please check on the availability of shaniaquotes.com, as well. All sorts of business opportunities popping up around here!
Having only 12 position players on your 40-man roster is kind of impressive
They only had like 28 total after the bulk Mike Soroka and Kyle Wright trades.
Braves had horseshoe up there a#s last season as far as position player injuries go. Wouldn’t count on replicating it, baseball God’s R fickle. Solid lil OF depth pickup.
Horseshoe up their ass? Let’s keep it to baseball talk, huh.
Just like when they won the World Series with a bunch of replacements for players that got hurt – including last season’s NL MVP?
As a follower of the Twins who saw him close and personal last year, he’s more a lottery ticket than a solid outfield depth player.
The Braves have a tremendous group of everyday players but they need some better depth options. They were fortunate to keep that group mostly healthy last year. They need a decent hitting backup outfielder and a decent hitting backup infielder. I think Wall could be a decent piece after having the best offensive year of his career in the minors and shining a bit in a microscopic sample of MLB action. At the least he is a pinch runner. They need a couple bigger deals but idk if respectable hitting backup options (like Pederson or Rosario in OF for instance) would go for a backup job, especially one that offered nothing last year. Losing Grissom creates a hole in depth as well, not that he plugged it last year when given a chance. They are a couple injuries away from a tough situation if they aren’t diligent enough.
@Rishi they have Guillorme and Fletcher for back up infielders, one is a LH and the other a RH, they also have Velazquez in the minors. I think there is enough depth for the infield
It’s the Outfield that needs to be strengthened. Ozuna could fill in if needed with one of our catchers filling in the DH spot. But that’s an emergency type situation.
I guess I’m saying on a WS caliber team I would prefer a backup who is really only a backup because they are on a great team. Combine their lack of potent depth with the lack of position player prospects too. I really don’t feel comfortable with a utility bench player having to end up playing everyday in the event of injury. Guys want to prove themselves but when they do sign up for a lesser role it’s generally with a team that could win it all. I know there is always the trade deadline tho
You could take anyone player out of lineup and still have the deepest line up in all of baseball. The Dodgers have their Big 3, Will Smith and strikeout TeOscar Hernandez and flotsam and jetsam fill out the 6 through the 9 spot.
It’s not an emergency situation – it’s a typical MLB situation. They won the division by 15 games and are also the most improved team in the division going into 2024.
Adam Duvall is the ideal, IMHO. Losing Grissom who didn’t prove sufficient at any position isn’t much of a loss, unless you really believed his bat would eventually play.
@rundmc1981 Duvall might be put us closer to the 3rd CBT threshold than we want to be. I think Pillar or Grossman are more feasible possibilities
Did he really not prove sufficient at any position or was it more he was only needed at short and couldnt play it? Idk which as I haven’t looked into it.
Considering how Arcia fell off post-AS Break (and how little he is making), do you really think they would have traded Grissom away after his .330 AAA season if they felt confident he could remotely take over SS in ’24? Sure, they’re happy with Sale, but that trade was more about they don’t envision an everyday spot for Grissom at either SS or COF in the near future. They value value above all else.
It isn’t that he couldn’t play defense as much as it is they needed him to play positions that aren’t his best (he has usually been described as a 2b long-term, for years). Clearly he isn’t a SS. Also including him in the Sale trade is a matter of necessity. They have few big prospects and the pitchers they have they don’t want to trade probably. If Albie’s didn’t exist he would be the 2B. So I was refuting “didnt prove sufficient at any position.” More like “playing him out of position and don’t have a spot for him”. One puts down the player falsely and the other shows that he’s simply blocked. Also most people expect him to hit acceptably. Including ATL. So that statement didn’t make sense either.
It’s more about being OK with a dead spot in the lineup while maintaining strong defense at SS.
Duvall won’t be taking a bench job. Maybe they should trade for Trout to fill their 4th OF position.
Isn’t Leury Garcia also a possibility for the outfield?
Pillar is still out there.
The Braves still have only 36 players on their 40 man roster, so they still have plenty of room to sign more players for their bench or bullpen. Or there will be lots of competition at Spring Training for guys like Garcia, Ludlow and others to gain a spot on the 40 man roster.
I would like to see what Jesse Franklin can do.
Franklin is a lefty, constantly injured, didn’t show much at AA last year and was left unprotected in the rule 5. They need a right hand hitting guy to complement Kelenic. I wish Jesse would have turned on but,like Grayson Jenista and many others,he is likely headed for a release sometime this season.
After a long day I came on here to see if the Giants signed Belli, only to find that along with everyone else, I’ve been signed to a minor league deal. Guess I’d better get some new cleats since I need to report in less than a month.
Good move. Braves really needed to build up their position player depth, especially after the Grissom trade. Looks like AA is prioritizing that now
I’ll never question a depth move like this. Hopefully, he can find success this time around.
AA is playing 31 dimensions chess.
Ideal candidates for the Braves to sign are Michael Taylor, Duvall, Grossman or Grichuk. All are looking for more playing time and more $$$ than the Braves are willing to offer. I see them settling for Pillar or someone similar eventually.
Is he related to Al Luplow who played for the Indians and Mets in the 1960s?
Relatives: Greatnephew of Al Luplow
I initially read that as John Lilthgow lol
That would be entertaining
There should never be a comma before “too.” This is an archaic rule.