Braves Bits–News You may have missed

Braves pitcher Pedro Beato has been removed from teh Braves 40 man roster. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

News about the Braves minor league players that doesn’t relate to the big club is often lost in the shuffle and many have said they like to hear about former Braves as well. Here’s what was floating around the wires this second week of July.

Step Sideways Please

The Braves transaction page announced that Pedro Beato has been outrighted off the 40 man roster. Beato was claimed off of waivers from the Reds in April but made just three appearances for the Braves throwing 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run. On June 15th he was put on the DL with a strained right elbow and last Tuesday was sent to Gwinnett on a rehab assignment. He is apparently staying in the organization and the move simply opens a roster spot. The question is why? It’s well known that the Braves are looking for relief help and adding someone to the 40 man whether the player is already in the organization or not would require freeing up a spot. I haven’t seen a hint of a matching move but as with all Braves fans I live in hope of something good.

Take One Giant Step Down Please

The official Twitter account of the San Francisco Giants announced that the services of former Brave Brandon Hicks were no longer required.

The move made room for the return of Marco Scutaro from the disabled list.

Hicks was the third round selection of the Braves in the 2007 amateur draft and made his debut for the Braves in May of 2010. Chipper Jones once proclaimed him the next Braves third baseman but while his glove was sound his bat wasn’t. In March of 2012 the Athletics claimed Hicks off waivers from the Braves and the following November his contract was purchased by the Mets. Following the 2013 season he was granted his release and signed with the Giants. With Scutaro injured Hicks was called up and played his usual sound defense. He also displayed surprising power. He had only 33 hits but 45% were extra base hits – 8 were homers, 6 were doubles and a triple – resulting in a rather odd slash of .162/.280/.319.  That isn’t enough for a challenging team and the Giants called up prospect Joe Panik  holding Hicks in reserve until Scutaro’s return.

All Flights to Seoul have a layover in Tokyo

Yesterday it was reported by MLBTR via Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net (on Twitter). that the Braves  and Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization were negotiating a buyout of righty Yunesky Maya’s contract . the 32 year old Maya was originally signed by the Nationals but was released last November and signed with the Braves in January. At Gwinnett he appeared in appeared in 17 games, starting 14, with a 3-3 record, 2.63 ERA ,1.354 WHIP and striking out 64 in 85 2/3 innings.

The Return of Jo-Jo

On Tuesday signed former Brave, Blue Jay and Oriole Jo-Jo Reyes  to a minor league contract. Reyes spent half of 2007 and all of 2008 in Atlanta winning 5 and losing 13 largely due to ERA that was never under 5.80 and a WHIP locked at 1.6+. In 2010 he was included in the package that sent Yunel Escobar to the Jays for Tim Collins, Alex Gonzalez and Tyler Pastornicky.  The Orioles claimed him off waivers in August of 2011. He spent 2012 in the Pirate organization and was briefly with the Dodgers after that but they released him in January of 2013 and he moved on to Korea for that season and the beginning of 2014. Maybe Maya is taking his place, it is a small world after all.

That’s A Wrap

That’s all the news for now. As more become available we’ll pass it along here at the take.’