The Braves and outfielder Ben Gamel have agreed to a minor league deal, reports Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. The Wasserman client will presumably also receive an invite to big league camp in spring training.
Gamel, 34 in May, didn’t make it to the majors in 2025. That was the first time since 2015 that he didn’t appear in the show. He signed minor league deals with the Tigers and Angels but was limited by injuries to just 52 minor league contests. He put up a hearty .281/.402/.539 line in those games but didn’t get called up.
Over his big league career, he has generally been a decent hitter. In 2,320 plate appearances, he has a .252/.334/.382 line. That translates to a 96 wRC+, indicating he has been just 4% below league average overall. A lefty swinger, he’s been a bit better with the platoon advantage but doesn’t have massive splits. He has a 98 wRC+ against righties and an 88 wRC+ versus southpaws. He has experience at all three outfield slots and first base but is primarily a left fielder.
Atlanta currently projects to have an outfield alignment featuring Ronald Acuña Jr., Michael Harris II and Jurickson Profar. The designated hitter spot is open but will likely be used to rotate catchers Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin through there. Given Acuña’s injury history and Profar’s poor defense, they could also get some DH time, which could open up some outfield time.
Eli White and Michael Siani are on the roster and project for bench roles, with Vidal Bruján and Brett Wisely around as infielder/outfielders. Siani is optionable, so it’s possible Gamel could earn a bench job and push Siani into regular playing time in Triple-A. Even if Gamel doesn’t break camp with the club, he could head to Triple-A and be ready to come up in the event of an injury.
Photo courtesy of Erik Williams, Imagn Images
Gamel won’t get them over the hump.
I bet he’s not related to Oscar.
Matt’s bro.
Gamel brothers=brewer “boys”
I remember Oscar Gamble but to my knowledge no Oscar Gamel ever played in the majors.
But he used to have amazing hair as well. Don’t know what Ben’s looks like now.
It’s a play on words.
These are not the Braves moves I’m looking for.
It’s not anyone’s I would hope. Braves never spend big in FA and honestly never have. But every year we hold out hope that this our year!…I would love to eat crow and have AA make some big splashes in FA, but the realist in me knows its not likely (but it won’t stop me from complaining lol).
I’ll take a trade at this point. Just *pokes Braves* do something.
He has been so incredibly subpar his entire career, I need to know what dirt he has on GM’s that he keeps getting signed. Either that or he’s an amazing clubhouse guy.
I think since he was a fairly well hyped prospect that didn’t pan out, he’s carried those lofty expectations around his whole career, while never meeting them. In reality he’s just an average one trick bench piece that can get hot and hit major league RHP at a decent clip every once in awhile. I’d say a minor league spot for that type of guy somehow bewildering or offending you says more about you than it does about him.
His older brother Mat was once a highly rated prospect for the Brewers but had his career cut short by recurrent ACL injuries.
It’s a minor league deal. So it’s an acceptable depth piece in case of injury.
If he hits a touch below league average and plays acceptable defense while covering for an injured outfielder, that’s not a bad signing.
He’s a low-risk Gamel for the team.
A 96 wRC+ isn’t incredibly subpar. It’s a little below average.
Dubon will be the biggest splash made by AA..
I’m still holding some hope, but probably. He’ll find another 5+ era starter to trade for and then give his usual “We inquired on “several” guys, but just couldn’t find value”, “But we’ll have dry powder for the trade deadline to pick up more dfa rejects when we’re in 3rd place.
“another 5+ era starter to trade for”…….like Chris Sale?
He couldn’t hit sand if he fell off a Gamel.
Lol…what a cheap, penny pinching team.
Do big spenders not fill out their minors?
We’re going to edge out the Marlins for third place…I just know it! So exciting!
Again for the people on the ledge, this is a depth signing and a way to replace the AAA players who left Gwinnett by selecting FA. A minor league signing like this is not going to stop AA from addressing the MLB squads needs.
Quality player to have hanging around in AAA to break glass in case of emergency
It’s not that people don’t understand its a minor league depth signing…its more that it’s the same from the previous 2 off-seasons and trade deadlines that has given everyone ptsd. However, last year these depth signings was how AA addressed the MLB squad unfortunately.
Homer you and I are regulars here, but it’s the newbies ready to jump. All the guys who left the AAA team have to be replaced as well. That’s more of my point. With the tax reset I see AA spending some to address our needs in the way of SP, OF AND RP. Maybe not the likes of Valdez or Suarez but the next tier down.
That’s it. Everyone else is playing for 1st runner up!
It would be nice if they could find a trade partner for PED Profar.
Mariners Legend Ben Gamel!