The Braves announced that right-hander Anthony Molina has been sent outright to Triple-A Gwinnett. It seems they quietly put him on waivers in recent days as there was no public indication he had been designated for assignment. The move drops their 40-man count to 39.
Molina, 24 in January, has never pitched for Atlanta. He was just claimed off waivers from the Rockies a couple of weeks ago. The Rockies had selected him from the Rays in the 2023 Rule 5 draft. He didn’t pitch especially well but the Rockies were rebuilding and kept him on the roster through that whole season regardless. He finished 2024 with 59 2/3 innings thrown mostly out of the bullpen, although technically one outing was a start as an opener. He allowed 6.79 earned runs per nine with a 15.5% strikeout rate, 8.3% walk rate and 41.9% ground ball rate.
By keeping him for the full year, the Rockies obtained his full rights and were no longer bound by the Rule 5 restrictions. He split 2025 between the major league bullpen and the Triple-A rotation. He tossed 69 2/3 Triple-A innings with a 6.59 ERA, 15% strikeout rate, 8.8% walk rate and 46.2% ground ball rate. His 34 2/3 big league innings resulted in a 7.27 ERA, 15% strikeout rate, 3% walk rate and 40.8% grounder rate.
Those aren’t the most exciting numbers but it surely doesn’t help that he was in very hitter-friendly environments. The Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes play in the Pacific Coast League, famously tough for pitchers, while Coors Field is also notorious for its hostility to hurlers.
Molina averages around 95 miles per hour with his fastball and also features a cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. Atlanta will try to get more out of that arsenal in a friendlier setting. Since this is Molina’s first career outright and he has less than three years of service time, he doesn’t have the right to elect free agency.
Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images
alex antompoulus: play first base its not that hard
wash: its very hard
“Tell him Wash.”
Ron Washington- “it’s incredibly hard”
It seems that another move is in the horizon perhaps a starting pitcher
Lets hope so, Suarez maybe-fingers crossed!
I’ve got some good news for you.
Over the last few years Anthopoulos has made a habit of acquiring pitchers who have upside and options remaining, but they have enough issues that they aren’t in high demand. It seems as if he then kinda keeps them on the roster until there are a lot of similar type players on waivers and tries to sneak them through so the braves can move them down to the minors. Sometimes it works and sometimes another team claims them.
It doesn’t always mean that a move is imminent.
AA made the claim hoping it was Alfred.
Some AGM just told him Anthony wasn’t Doc Ock from Spiderman. Couldn’t keep his mouth closed.
I keep wondering if bringing in Yaz wasn’t a sign that they might trade Murphy with maybe Caminiti or JR Ritchie for a controllable starter, especially with Sale set to become a free agent next year.
That’s interesting 🤔
@letsplaytwotomorrow:
You need to check out one of the recent video interviews of Anthopoulos in which he said that they will reevaluate Murphy’s progress in mid January, but that he was probably going to be someone who would benefit from some extra time (in other words alluding to the very real possibility that Murphy will begin the season on the IL). That greatly negates his trade value even further.
Murphy is a big question mark for now. He had surgery in September…..not sure anyone is taking that risk.
@Lifetime: Imo, signing Yaz makes Profar the most likely player to be dealt. Pirates need bats and they’ve got pitching to deal—-even after the 3 team trade and their earlier deal w/Boston.
In this case, it won’t. No move is imminent. The little end of nothing is done during the holidays.
Such a shame. He was a massive upside pitcher as a kid
There was a Brave available and Perry didn’t land him?
Dude is slipping.
This is one of the moves that I hate more than any. They need to change it in the next CBA. If you claim a guy off waivers from another team, you should not be allowed to outright them until they play a minimum number of games for you. Meaning in the off season, you shouldn’t be allowed to outright a claimee at all UNLESS he is outrighted to his original team. If they pass, then you can outright them.
In this case, the Rockies tried to outright Molina and the Braves claimed him for their 40 man. They should not be allowed to outright Molina unless another team claims him for their 40 man (which didn’t happen) OR the Rockies do not want him for their own depth. This is not done for the benefit of the player, it is pure roster manipulation. And it would definitely stop fringe guys from being passed around like the weakest guy in a prison yard.
It usually doesn’t work this way, with a guy from a bad team being claimed by a good team. It’s usually the opposite, and is intended for the benefit of the player, so he can get a big league shot.
I get that and I have no problem with them getting a big league shot. But this is the exact OPPOSITE of getting a big league shot. This is one team that an open roster spot claiming a player that was intended for depth by his original team. Up to this point, I have no problem. The problem is when the new team doesn’t give him a big league shot and outrights him for depth as well. I want players to have a chance to succeed even if it means no compensation for the original team. But I don’t like to see team manipulate roster just to steal depth.
1) they are the weakest guy in the prison yard
2) Its not like they are packing up the U-haul each time. Their agents are telling them what to expect
3) if the teams had to make commitments to these AAAA guys they just would not claim them. The would be more inclined to just rely on prospects for depth. So they would not have jobs.
4) no one is putting a gun to their heads. They are free to go work at Wendys like the rest of us.
5) Having the opportunity to play ball at any level is a privilege. Its not any kind of oppressive act.
So you think that since they are not being held at gunpoint, teams can do whatever the hell they want without regards to fair labor practices? Thank you for your opinion Mr Scrooge, now go see the ghosts again.
They have a CBA. If they don’t like the “unfair labor practices”, they can change the CBA.
Careful bham. hiflew mutes those who don’t goosestep to his childish pov. He’s been on this rant for years—and as a Colorado fan, he’s particularly sensitive about ex-Rockies.
He’s got me on mute now. I think the only reason I could respond to him was because his post was a response.
Yep, me too. I don’t even think he sees our response. Same w/Never Remember/blackpink. Trolls of a feather………..
Perry just woke up and bolted out of his bed. He looks out of his bed room window toward the sky the Atlanta Braves logo appears in the sky.
He grabs his cell and orders subordinates to put in a waiver claim for Molina. Moments later Perry is fast asleep zzzzzzz. Zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz
Molina, I hardly knew ya.