The Braves have signed outfielder Eddie Rosario to a minor league contract, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports (X link). Rosario will report to Triple-A Gwinnett to begin his latest stint with the organization. The Braves also announced a set of other transactions, including the news that outfielder Eli White’s contract has been selected to the big league roster. Forrest Wall was optioned to Triple-A to make room for White on the 26-man roster, while left-hander Ray Kerr was moved to the 60-man to create a 40-man roster spot.
It didn’t take long for Rosario to catch on with a familiar landing spot, as his release from the Nationals was made official just yesterday. Washington designated Rosario for assignment on Monday and then officially parted ways with the veteran after nobody claimed him (or the roughly $950K in salary still owed to him this season) on waivers. Assuming Rosario is called up to Atlanta’s active roster, the Braves will owe him just the prorated portion of a Major League minimum salary, and that total will be subtracted from the $950K or so that will be covered by the Nats.
As per the terms of the minor league deal Rosario signed with the Nationals during the offseason, he was guaranteed a $2MM base salary upon having that contract selected to their active roster, and there was no suspense about the decision since the Nats had him in their Opening Day lineup. However, there weren’t many highlights of Rosario’s three months in the District, as he hit only .183/.226/.329 with seven home runs over 235 plate appearances. Even with the Nats largely shielding Rosario from left-handed pitching, his .182/.222/.349 slash line against righties served to crater his production.
Though Washington has stuck around in the wild card race, it was widely expected going into the season that Rosario was a veteran trade chip that the Nationals would look at flip by the deadline. Unfortunately, Rosario’s subpar production led the team to just release him with no return, and he’ll now return to Atlanta looking for a repeat of his magical 2021 season.
Rosario was also struggling through a rough 2021 campaign with Cleveland before the Braves picked him up at the trade deadline, and the rest became Atlanta baseball history. Rosario hit .271/.330/.573 with seven homers in 106 PA over the rest of the regular season just to help the Braves into the playoffs, and the hot hitting continued into October as Rosario captured NLCS MVP honors en route to helping the team win the World Series.
The Braves then re-signed Rosario to a two-year, $18MM free agent deal that contained a $9MM club option for 2024, but Atlanta declined that option last fall after Rosario couldn’t keep the momentum going. He battled vision problems during a miserable 2022 campaign, then rebounded for roughly league-average production (.255/.305/.455 with 21 homers in 516 PA) last year but the Braves still opted to pass on retaining Rosario’s services for another season. With these decent numbers coming just last year, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Rosario experience at least some kind of a revival in Atlanta, even if a repeat of 2021 is a lot to ask.
In another odd echo of 2021, Rosario has again been acquired in the aftermath of a season-ending torn ACL from Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. Michael Harris II is also on the injured list recovering from a hamstring strain and recent acquisition Ramon Laureano has also been battling a back problem for the last week, leaving the Braves even more short-handed in the outfield. Assuming that Rosario won’t be in Gwinnett for too long, he can become a left-handed hitting complement to the righty-swinging White and Luke Williams, as Jarred Kelenic continues everyday duty in center field and Adam Duvall in right field. With Harris not expected back until after the All-Star break at the earliest, the Braves will try to make do with this group until Harris returns, or unless other reinforcements are brought in via trades or signings.
White is now in line for his first bit of MLB action this season, and his first since the Braves optioned him down to Triple-A in April 2023. White has appeared in each of the last four Major League campaigns, and all but six of his 136 career games in the Show came with the Rangers from 2020-22. He has batted just .181/.259/.288 in 406 career PA in the bigs, but White has been much better at Triple-A, including a .294/.402/.462 slash line for Gwinnett over 234 PA this season.
White’s brief career has unfortunately been defined by injuries, as his last three seasons have all been ended early by surgeries. After an elbow surgery in 2021 and a wrist surgery in 2022, White suffered a tore labrum in his left shoulder almost exactly one year ago, which led to yet another procedure and another abbreviated season for the outfielder. White’s all-fields defense and quality baserunning makes him a useful player for the outfield-needy Braves to have in at least a bench role, and his Triple-A numbers suggest that he could still have some late-bloomer potential at age 30.
It was announced two weeks ago that Kerr would be undergoing Tommy John surgery, so it was just a matter of time before the Braves moved him to the 60-day IL when a 40-man spot was needed. Kerr had a 5.64 ERA in 22 1/3 innings for Atlanta this season, and the timing of his surgery could mean that he might miss the entire 2025 season.
Shocker! Who figured he would go back to the Braves org? Surely no one!
He’s back!
i was hoping not
This doesn’t move the needle at all. I don’t like the team sending Forest Wall down, for crying out loud, give Wall a chance. Stop shuffling these outfielders around like a cheap deck of cards. many of the present team can’t hit their weight, they can’t hit their wives weight.
Well, this signing isn’t intended to move the needle; it’s a minor league pact that creates insurance in the case of more injuries or underperformance as an attempt to keep the team afloat. I don’t understand why fans think every transaction needs to move the needle. Would you rather make no move at all and not have insurance for your other insurance? Maybe just play a hobo from the nearest freight train when your next outfielder goes down?
Players are going to hit even less than their wives’ weight if you don’t patch the hole.
I don’t think it creates insurance as much as it is a replacement for Duvall who will likely platoon sometime soon. They will likely get another outfielder but for now I think that’s the plan.
Smacky. Why you bringing race into it
Because he is a m°ron who still has some delusional belief that the south or Braves fans in general are racist. In reality I would say the metro Atlanta area has less white racists then just about anywhere in the country. They used to literally tell people this stuff in textbooks. An older woman told me how growing up in Wisconsin or somewhere she wondered what was wrong with southerners to be so racist. She moved here and realized her own place of origin was the racist one. And why not? People have lived together in the south for much longer and the diversity is much higher than most places. So it’s kind of obvious. If only it weren’t for media btw. Only reason we think about this. And media only can speak about it because their audience is generally ignorant and easily led like cattle.
A part of me is upset I actually even responded. But he’s throwing Braves fans and citizens under the bus. They are so darn racist they hail Rosario’s name every time he appears after 3 years.
Smacky doesn’t limit his bigotry to racism. He’s also posted countless ageism slurs on the site. He muted me last year when I pushed back against his bigoted garbage. He should be banned. Flagging/reporting his comments has done no good. Don’t get why he and several others like him are allowed to keep posting here. Smacky and his gang aren’t on the site to engage in baseball discussion. There are other places they can go to vent their anger and bigotry.
As usual it is the person calling folks racist who is the bigoted one.
There you go Braves fans, you guys predicted it.
A crappy player. Perfect for the Braves
Lord… we all saw this coming … smh..
It’s no risk on a minor league deal but still.. save every penny and use it on better options
Atlanta Braves Baseball: turning chicken s*** into chicken salad since ’66
AA’s checklist:
Duvall – check
Rosario – check
Pederson:
Soler:
Jesse Chavez:
You’re exactly the type of Braves fan the org targets to pacify with these types of moves knowing full well lightening isn’t going to strike twice.
As long as people like you exist though they’ll keep pulling these stunts.
@2024- Where do either of the above posters say they support this move? The first one refers to “AA’s checklist,” which is surely for comedic effect. The second post adds to that comedic effect.
Methinks you’re taking this a little too seriously, especially for a minor league transaction.
“People like you exist..keep pulling these stunts”…And as long as “people like you exist”, the internet will always be a place of unhappiness and general negativity being instantaneously spread worldwide.
@BravesFan2024 – lol! Always appreciate a “people like you” and we’re still some months off from the election. Uncle Ray, that you?!?
You searched hard for approval in that post, especially when directly above it (in a separate thread) I allude to this being “chicken s—“, but carry on. Don’t hurt yourself burning your 2024 Braves jersey – they’re flammable.
I’m the one who said letting Freeman walk and trading for Olson was a bad idea. You were the person defending Olson’s age as a good reason for moving on. Freeman having 3 MVP caliber seasons and Olson has had 1 and 2 mediocre to bad seasons so far.
I’m also the one saying banking on Arcia was a bad decision. You defended that too because you defend everything they do. The reality is they should have spent on someone that offseason. Checking the scoreboard, you won the regular season for Arcia last year, but then he disappeared postseason when it matters, and now he’s totally regressed to being an automatic out. Love that we didn’t sign a reliable SS when 3 or 4 were available during Swanson’s FA season.
I’m also the one who said trading William Contreras for Murphy was at best a lateral move and at worst a total downgrade. Guess which we are with this one? But but but Murphy’s defense you and others said. But but but he’ll be hitting in a hitter friendly park with a better offense around him you and others said. That one has been a disaster
Be sure to continue letting everyone know how awesome AA is on your next post though. You never learn. I’m not against all of his moves either so don’t twist it that way. I’m just smart enough to look at each of them objectively.
This offseason when he lets Fried walk and refuses to sign a replacement starter instead bringing in some aging vet on a 1 year deal, I will again be the one saying that’s a mistake. You want to oppose me and support letting Fried walk like you have a track record of doing? Or do you want to finally stop acting like a sheep and call the Braves out when they get cheap and make dumb decisions?
Your choice, but we’re both the ones who watch this team squander a golden opportunity to win multiple titles in this window where they’ve made some really great moves to lock up a young talented core and some really terrible moves because they’re too afraid to go all in and finish the job of putting the final pieces in place. So neither of us will really win in the end when it’s a repeat of the 90s. 14 division wins and 1 WS…. Sounds great… :rollseyes:
Yikes another clown who thinks hes smarter than actual gms, yet not a single mlb organization has hired him. Always funny how that works.
@ BravesFan2024 – You really need direct your messages @ folks if you’re targeting or else it looks like you’re yelling at the sky.
Sorry, but I need receipts if you think I said all of that. But just carry on ranting on a rather insignificant deal (signing Rosario to a MiLB contract — which is about the most predictable pre-Deadline move, not unlike bringing back Duvall and/or Chavez). But the straw that broke the camel’s back is helping OF depth while 2 OF starters miss extended time and platoon OF are playing full-time (while one of them: Duvall, is hitting .180 through 66 games played. Yes, don’t be a sheep and take a stand here against AA.
Re: Fried — a lot of games to be played before he reaches free agency. But there’s pros/cons to giving Fried a Rodon-like contract (close to market value). Not a lot of those deals recently have worked out for teams, Fried has done a lot but as recent as last year that he had forearm issues which is typically an ominous sign.
You keep referring to Freeman like it wasn’t Freeman’s agent that was responsible him leaving ATL. Even Freeman believes that…yet, you don’t? Even LAD wasn’t willing to pay the reported deal Close came back to ATL on their final offer. But ATL was crazy for going in another direction? Keep lighting your tiki torch.
You realize that there was an owner lock out that off season so the Braves had little time to negotiate. The Braves thought freeman was gone so they went for the next best option Olson.
Not sure if you watched but last year Olson set the Braves single season home run and rbi. Plus he is 8 million a season cheaper. So almost like instead of freeman the Braves for Olson and pierce johnson for the bullpen.
BravesFan2024
You are too close to whatever reality you are knee deep in. Everyone has been there.
You are replying to a joke thread of mocking the Braves tactics. Or at the very least, showing the typical basic moves.
Then you disagree, and are angry about some perceived disrespect. In the past. Then you do not direct your target besides replying to two of us in a joke thread, and also you state “all you”.
And :rollseyes.
I don’t follow. Unless you are doing a bit.
To be fair, runDMC is godawful in nearly every single thread related to the Braves.
Just awful, sure. Godawful took some time.
The fact that you cited Arcia when Swanson costs significantly more and has sucked is comedic. Guess you’d prefer to burn money :rollseyes: Not acknowledging Murphy’s injuries is also hilarious.
I have no dog in this fight because I couldn’t possibly care less about the Braves, but pointing out the moves that backfired while refusing to acknowledge the coups like Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, and all the cheap extensions for players such as Acuna, Albies, and Riley is so absurd. Fans like you ruin these threads. It’s like you enjoy being miserable.
@BravesFan2024
Calling yourself a “Bravesfan” and asserting the “Braves let Freeman walk”, the contradiction there is quite ironic.
@BravesFan2024 No dog in this fight but I am very much impressed with AA hitting on his off-season gambles: Sale, Reynoldo, and Kelenic … very impressive, maybe it wasn’t him necessarily but your scouts who said Pull The Trigger but that was very impressive in my mind. I’m a Mariners fan and Kelenic would be the best hitter on our team if we had kept him…D’OH!
I don’t agree with anything you said except Freeman. You are definitely underestimating Olson tho. He will likely finish the season as a well above average hitter. You are again (like with Olson) basing the Contreras trade off of this season largely when it’s going to take years to fully analyze and we really won’t even be able to as fans possibly because it’s his defense and work with pitchers that they value so highly over Contreras (tho he has improved from what we hear). I don’t think they had much of a choice but to bet on Arcia as they have little money they can spend. If the lineup were doing what it is capable of Arcia wouldn’t even be a big issue as he has been spectacular defensively.
lol what.
Literally think about team chemistry. The might even see a hole in Eddie’s swing they have fixed before. This is childish.
Yes, I’m sure the FO is entirely aware what us idiots are saying on an untimely baseball message forum. I’d make every decision based on what’s said here and then shot into the sun when my team won no games.
“type of braves fan….pacify”- I’m pretty sure they just don’t have a lot of money and they are playing a horrid version of Adam Duvall everyday. I’m not sure anybody is trying to catch lightning in a bottle. The move makes a ton of sense. It’s not necessarily gonna work but it is practically a no-brainer to try at least until the trade deadline approaches. Perhaps what you are getting at is how they bring players back. I think that has as much to do with the organization, familiarity, and clubhouse as it does with making fans happy. And why shouldn’t they do those moves for that reason alone? A guy actually complaining about (his delusional idea about…) a club doing something to please the fans-albeit putting a spin on it and saying “appease”
You are missing one player.
Father’s Day Legend Charlie Culberson
Braves need that Will Smith magic in the bullpen too
BAND
BACK
TOGETHER
AA is playing 6D Yahtzee.
Wow big surprise the one team that NO ONE would have expected woweeee
Thank the gods that Eli White got promoted.
Need some thunder in the lineup.
This team is insufferable to watch and I stopped watching since April. No surprise.
For whatever it’s worth, the year they won the World Series, they had a .547 winning percentage during the regular season.
They currently have a .553 winning percentage. Just because they aren’t running away with the league lead doesn’t mean they’re bad.
Also, take a look around the majors. Most teams are struggling far worse then the Braves.
“Is insufferable to watch..stopped watching”…You came here just to tell us you’ve “stopped watching” the Braves?…Good thing they’ve got millions of fans worldwide and really don’t care if you “watch” or not. I’m pretty sure the Braves will survive and thrive without the eyeballs of one prima donna fan.
lol “insufferable to watch”…fans from most other teams would love to have the Braves’ record…and players. Talk about spoiled.
who cares about record?! The team is broken and needs a complete retool. The good news is the Braves have a reason to trade Fried now. Long overdue.
You probably laughed when Snitker got hit in the jimmy with a foul ball too!
I haven’t watched a game since April. I didn’t even bother looking at the highlight of him getting hit nor do I care. The most exciting thing about this team will be the deadline so by 25, this team will be different
Trade Acuna is a douchebag!
I have a feeling this is more a final stand for Rosario’s career than it is the Braves thinking he might be a part of the solution. The other options are so putrid for the next month, he may get a call-up in a week or two just because the other options aren’t great anyways, but he’ll really have to hit well for the first time since that ‘21 run to have any kind of leash.
That he waited as long as he did to sign a minors deal with a projected bad team and then said team both didn’t think he was good enough to keep to either A. help sneak into the postseason or B. Flip at the deadline for a lotto ticket should tell you what the league thinks of him.
Meantime, it probably doesn’t hurt ticket sales in Gwinnett.
Rosario put up solid numbers last year for the Braves 21 home runs, 74 runs batted in, 24 doubles. batted .255. The major reason the Braves declined his option was that he was not very good defensive. Those are not that bad of numbers.
Something also to be said about playing for an organization that you are comfortable with. The Braves seem to get the best of players that sign with them. Well I am not expecting Rosario to be a starter for Atlanta, I do believe that he has a good chance of eventually being the 4th outfielder with a start here and there, and some pitch hit duties.
Regardless; these are low risk high reward possible moves that teams need to make during the year
Yup. Look at Profar. He was pretty much done last year. When Preller signed him, everyone yawned and wondered what AJ’s obsession with him was…but meanwhile, Profar was saying he just loves San Diego so much that it was the only place he wanted to play..and he’s been arguably one of the best players in baseball this year.
Not saying the same will happen with Rosario, but it’s a similar low risk/high reward signing for an imperfect player..and sometimes, you just catch lightning in a bottle.
Why does it feel like that past couple years the braves front office doesn’t know what they are doing with their roster???? Could it be because the starters play 90% of all games? Serious question just seems weird how their roster is always changing
I don’t know how you would think that, 2021, 2022, 2023 the Braves won the division. Last year they had the best record in baseball. A baseball season is only 162 games of usually 3 hours or less so not like playing your starters daily should be a crazy task.
I think 90% of the MLB teams would take the Braves front office.
They literally added two of the front runners for Cy Young for peanuts. Good lord..a couple of guys have rough offensive 1st halves, and everyone goes insane.
@Dwayne The Braves have done an unbelievable job locking up the core position players for years to come. They have had roster turnover due to injuries and trimming the fat. They traded away a bunch of 40-man roster glut to add specific needs.
While the Rays do an unbelievable job with the little resources they have, the situation they re on is not something to be envious of. If there is a team(s) to be envious of it is ATL or BAL. ATL has done an amazing job locking up young talent and acquiring talent that other teams have started to shun. As for the O’s, just have to give kudos to their scouting and coaches in farm system. They re just pumping out young talent right now.
Non risk move; if it can hit some he probably sees some playing time. Rosario always seemed to have big hits for Atlanta even last year I remember a grand slam in the top of 9th in Arizona that was huge for Atlanta.
The Braves major league bench players were so non lacking in power last week that the Braves had to pitch hit Zack Short with winning runs on top of 9th. Would have much rather had Rosario in that situation.
Not a big headline move.
Remember though in 2021 when the Braves traded for Rosario he was struggling with the Twins…. Maybe just maybe this move is a Jesse Chavez type situation….or he doesn’t rebound and the Braves end up releasing him. Either way there isn’t any real risk with bringing Eddie back!!
He was struggling for the Indians in 2021.
You’re right it was the Indians aka Guardians
Thanks for the update on Ray Kerr.
What’s the status of JOE KERR ??
or his brother Wayne?
I can’t believe you pulled that old one out.
Have you after all, no shame?
Batman and Robin know what’s up.
Well of course they did.
If Laureano can get healthy and keep hitting the ball the way he was hitting it in his limited appearances, and Rosario can contribute a little, and then get Harris back at the bottom of the order, things will look a whole lot greater. Unfortunately, I see White, Wall, Williams as AAA players. The 7,8,9 are hitting about .216 collectively as opposed to ’23 they hit above .250. They would’ve been better off putting Ozuna at left(I know his defence is not great) and giving Gurriel a go as DH(experienced bat), but I know that’s not happening, so Rosario it is if he can show something with the bat. I’m unsure what’s happening when you have Duvall, Laureano, Rosario, and Anderson all playing for one position once Harris is fit again, and Harris’ numbers are also down.
This is ultimate desperation. Lighting striking twice.
Ya’ll are over-analyzing this minor transaction WAY too much. This post shouldn’t have 60+ responses lol.
It’s a minor league deal for outfield depth, no biggie.
It’s ironic how Eddie Rosario’s career seems to have a recurring theme with the Braves—struggling elsewhere, only to find redemption in Atlanta. After being released by the Nationals for hitting just .183, he’s now back with the Braves, the team where he found magic in 2021. It feels like déjà vu, with Rosario once again being brought in following Ronald Acuña Jr.’s season-ending injury. Maybe the Braves should just keep Rosario on standby for every mid-season crisis—they might as well rename their Triple-A team the “Rosario Revival Squad.”
Rosario will get old eventually, and the skills will inevitably regress to nothingness. Not every reclamation project is Jesse Chavez.