The Braves outrighted lefty José Suarez to Triple-A Gwinnett, relays David O’Brien of The Athletic. Atlanta had designated him for assignment on Monday when they acquired Scott Blewett.
Suarez landed with the Braves a month ago. Atlanta and the Angels agreed on a change-of-scenery swap for Ian Anderson. It didn’t work for either team. Suarez has gone unclaimed on waivers, while Anderson is in limbo after the Halos designated him for assignment last night.
The 27-year-old Suarez made three appearances before the DFA. He managed 7 1/3 innings of three-run ball, but he walked a tightrope to do so. Suarez issued free passes to seven of 30 batters faced while recording only five strikeouts. While he only allowed three hits, more than half the batted balls against him were hit at an exit velocity of at least 95 MPH.
Suarez looked like a capable back-end starter for the Angels between 2021-22. His production has tanked since then, as he carries a 6.56 earned run average over the past three seasons. He lost a good chunk of the ’23 campaign to a shoulder strain, and he spent time in Triple-A last year after being waived by the Halos.
While Suarez could have declined this assignment in favor of free agency, he would have forfeited what remains of his $1.1MM salary to do so. He’ll head to Gwinnett as long relief depth and try to pitch his way back onto the big league roster. He’d become a minor league free agent at season’s end if the Braves don’t call him back up.
With perseverance, along with determination José Suarez could regain his footing, regain his control, & Confidence at the Minor League level.
Baseball is a humbling sport. I wish him the best.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Ain’t like that no more.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog…
Blewett has pulled a Piazza this year
Or the universe has had him travel 3 teams
In a very short span of time
If he can’t elect FA and accepted or is forced to stay in our system, that’s a very small win for us. He was DFA’d right as strider pulls that hamstring and albeit he isn’t. Great pitcher boy we are so thin in depth. He was pitching ok ish for us at the time, which for our current bullpen situation, is like ace material lol. AA is giving a free pass all to often but our current pitching situation is an absolute mess and the fact he didn’t do anything to rebuild the bullpen and “injury insurance” the rotation with a vet or two is beyond frustrating. It’s very very clear he’s trying to stay below the tax threshold and have it ready this season. I mean heck, David Robertson is still a FA… unless he’s just ready to hang up the cleats, he’s a huge upgrade to the pen right now. And I’m sure there is a vet starting pitcher on the market we can sign a minor league and ramp up. I mean, those two moves help a lot. But right now if something happens to anyone else in the rotation, we are in deep trouble.
Yea. There is Anthony Desclafani, Marco Gonzales, and Spencer Turnbull. Still a young guy is Turnbull. He’s only 32.
They can definitely replace him.
Raise your hand if you thought that said Jesse Chavez….
Never understood why he was the one who was sent down in favor of Scott Blew-It. After all, he pitched 7.1 innings, gave up three hits and walked only one with a 2.45 ERA. I know his career stats aren’t great, but go ahead and let him keep pitching until he blows it like Blewett.
And yet the entirety of major league baseball declined to call upon his services. If he pitches well then Atlanta will almost assuredly call him back up during the season.
Wonder when they resign Ian Anderson to a minor league deal and put him back at Gwinnett
I hope they do Kev. There is not enough depth at SP in AAA anyways.
Ian has a -0.6WAR in 9.1 innings. Thats really bad. All of his metrics are down. Hes cooked im afraid
Maybe he could hit up Profar for some of that pick up my stats juice.