The Braves released a pair of veterans who’d been playing with their Triple-A affiliates on minor league contracts: first baseman/outfielder Garrett Cooper and right-handed reliever Jordan Weems. Both moves are reflected on the transaction log at MiLB.com.
Cooper, 34, is a veteran of eight big league seasons. He was a regular with the Marlins when healthy from 2019-22, quietly delivering a sharp .274/.350/.444 batting line in 1273 plate appearances over that stretch. Cooper was snakebit by injuries over that four-year period, however, spending time on the injured list due to wrist, hand, elbow and back injuries. He also missed time with a concussion and suffered a broken finger in the final days of the 2022 season.
Miami traded Cooper to San Diego at the ’23 deadline — a deal netting them lefty Ryan Weathers — and Cooper became a free agent at season’s end. He appeared in 36 big league games with the Cubs and Red Sox last year but hit just .206/.267/.299 in 116 plate appearances.
The early returns on Cooper’s minor league deal with Atlanta were good. He opened the season hitting .244/.426/.415 and drew 11 walks in his first 54 plate appearances (20.4%). He’s fallen into a slump since, slashing just .220/.238/.256 with two walks and only three extra-base hits (all doubles) in his 84 most recent plate appearances.
Cooper’s last full, productive season was in 2022, but he was a nearly average bat in 2023 and has a track record of some length in the majors. He’s a career .265/.333/.427 hitter overall, and his right-handed bat plays particularly well against lefties: .283/.333/.468. Teams looking for help at first base — such as Cooper’s old Red Sox club — or just a veteran bat on the bench could take a speculative look now that he’s a free agent.
Similarly, the 32-year-old Weems had a nice start in Gwinnett before falling into a rough patch. The former A’s and Nationals righty tossed 9 2/3 innings with a 2.79 ERA and 12-to-5 K/BB ratio in April but has now yielded runs in five of his past six outings. Since the calendar flipped to May, Weems has surrendered seven earned runs in eight frames and fanned just 15.4% of opponents (compared to 29.3% in April). He’s now sitting on a 5.09 ERA in 17 2/3 innings this year.
Weems has logged big league time in each of the past five seasons and was a consistent presence in the Nats’ bullpen from 2022-24. His year-to-year ERA marks were a rollercoaster that evened out with a combined 5.03 through 136 innings during his time in D.C. The righty fanned 23% of opponents against a 10.8% walk rate with Washington.
Weems’ best year both with the Nationals and in his major league career on the whole came in 2023, when he pitched 54 2/3 innings with a 3.62 earned run average, a 25.7% strikeout rate and a 12.4% walk rate. Manager Dave Martinez typically used Weems in lower-leverage middle relief situations throughout his time as a National.
Should Nats try to sign Weems again?
In his 30’s, Cooper had devolved into a AAAA player at best. Boston has better in-house options, so I am not sure why Steve Adams is always pushing for some outside candidate to play 1B for Boston. Will he get a box of cup cakes from the Sox FO if they can continue to manipulate the service time of Mayer and Anthony?
Mayer to short, Story to 2nd, Campbell to 1st.
Sox don’t need more infielders or outfielders.
“Boston has better in house options”…Boston’s first base spot has been a black hole for some time now.
That’s why one of the worst hitters Ive seen in baseball, Bobby Dalbec, got roughly 1000 at bats there for the Sox in the last several years.
Mlb while i agree dalbec went downhill after 2021 but that 2021 season in which he hit 240 with 25 hr and 78 rbi hardly falls into any “worst ever” conversation
MLB, the Sox hole at 1st the past 2 years is due to Triston’s injuries. It has nothing to do with Dalbs. That fact that Dalbec was their 1st base injury insurance the past 3 or 4 years has more to do with the FO not drafting/sighing a legit back up plan.
Campbell is taking reps at 1st. He is a big target to aim at.
Best solution is what I posted above, but you could also move Story to 1st. I am sure you could name other in-house options, also.
The point is that the Sox don’t need more fielders. The FO simply needs to promote Mayer and Anthony and trade away the extras for pitching.
@DBH: Just curious and not trying to throw shade here, but do you really think the RSox will be satisfied w/Campbells bat at 1B?
Jeff. If he adjusts and hits like he did in mar/apr while winning rookie of the month honors or last year while winning mlb minor league player of the year who wouldnt?.there is a reason he is a top 10 prospect in all mlb before signing ..he can hit. .he just needs to show can adjust at the mlb level .
Is there a better option out there they can pick up for the remainder of this year?
Nashville, If he can hit .250 and provide league average defense, then yes for the following reasons.
1, it is a band aid for the rest of the year
2. He isn’t a good defensive 2nd baseman, so maybe his d will improve at 1sr
3. He is the tallest, so hence, the biggest target they have for 1sr
4. His presence at 2nd blocks Mayer
5. His moving to 1st allows Story to move to 2nd (He is decent there) and allows Mayer to come up to Short, his natural position.
6. Sox are already over the tax threshold, any add on come with taxes.
7. Will allow for a trade of Story at the deadline.
Just some reasons off the top of me head lol
Not really in my opinion, at least financially wise. Sox are over the threshold so any salary will be salary plus.
@DBH: Solid reasoning! I’m a Braves fan who watched him really struggle at the plate this weekend, so I’m probably judging him too harshly based on a 3 game sample. That said, I was surprised to see a player that I’d read so many good things about look as bad as he did at the plate vs the Braves. Seems to me that Hamilton should be starting over him at 2B until Mayer comes up and they can move Story. Like I said though—-I’m a Braves fan and you guys know your players much better than I do.
Personally, I think rushing Campbell and bouncing him between positions is hurting him. Another reason to move him to 1st, it ends the bumper ball effect.
I imagine it is hard enough to learn to hit at just one position, but being tossed all over the field must make it near. impossible.
Oh, and it will also end the Devers to 1st drama
They really actually don’t though. First Base is a patch job of utility Infielders covering the position until a better option presents itself. Not saying that option is Cooper but it’s something that will need to be addressed at some point if they are serious about contending
Red Sox legend Garrett Cooper
If this is it for Cooper, he’s made a pretty good MLB career for himself. OPS+ above 100, appeared in an All-Star game, and made $11 million. Most guys in the minors would take that in a heartbeat.
Seems like the Braves could have gotten
something from the Red Sox for Cooper.
They need a 1st baseman. A bag of balls,
dozen torpedo bats, something!
He was an All Star a few years back!