Braves Shuffle Roster Recall Christian Bethancourt
By Fred Owens
The Atlanta Braves today recalled catcher Christian Bethancourt – seen here applying a tag in a June game against the Padres and inserted him in tonight’s lineup against the Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Braves announced more roster moves this afternoon recalling Christian Bethancourt and DFA David Aardsma among others.
Doing the Roster Shuffle Again
Just when you think you know your role
And all Braves’ players got a little bit of soul
You don’t have to think, you don’t move a muscle
To do the round robin, Gwinnett to Atlanta roster shakin shuffle
(Apologies to Tony Ashton eta al)
Another week and another Braves roster shuffle. Today’s stanza involved Eury Perez going down and Sugar Ray Marimon coming up as well as Bethancourt and Aardsma.
The arrival of Michael Bourn and his big contract doomed Perez to Gwinnett almost immediately; there simply wasn’t enough room for that many outfielders. Perez could hardly have done more to stay, his .269/.331/.303 line is better than Bourn’s .103/.167/.128 <shudder> but his contract dictates that he stay so Perez was optioned.
Aardsma was better than his ERA suggests. His problems came from his long ball rate but 1.272 WHIP and a 10.3 K/9 rate mean the Braves might be able to move him for money if nothing else. There is a shortage of bullpen arms and he’s worth a shot. His place in the bullpen is taken by Marimon.
Marimon hardly seems like an improvement. In his last brief visit he posted a 7.70 ERA (4.73 FIP) and a 1.821 WHIP. At Gwinnett however he’s been pretty good as highlighted by his seven scoreless inning outing last week. Since being sent back to AAA he made five starts and one relief appearance posting a 3.42 ERA and 1.252 WHIP in 26 1/3 IP. How that translates back in the pen is yet to be seen,
We all know the story on Bethancourt. He started the season as the catcher designate but seemed to have forgotten everything he’d learned behind the plate. In June he was banished to Gwinnett to get his act together.
In the beginning that didn’t work so well but gradually he started throwing out runners and swinging the bat better. As of this morning he had a .333/.336/.492/.856 line in the 51 games since his demotion. His recall once again give the Braves three catchers and his start tonight seems to indicate that the Braves are going to give him another run at making the starting job his. If he’s unable to do that they’ll no doubt look for someone else this off season.
That’s A Wrap
I expected Betti back next week when rosters expand making the timing of today’s moves is a bit odd. I haven’t seen anything saying A.J. Pierzynski or Ryan Lavarnway are injured so why now? AJ is surely wearing down and his catcher ERA is awful but this has to be about who catches in 2016.
Perez ran into the contracts or Bourn and Nick Swisher. Bourn’s best days are well behind him and arguably Perez is a better outfielder at this point. I expect him back next week along with more arms to evaluate in September. Throughout his career Marimon’s best work has come when he starts, whether he can be good out of the pen now is problematic making this move another one looking towards next season rather than the remaining days of this one.
These moves at least give fans notice that management is looking forward and along with the imminent arrival of Hector Olivera may give them a reason to watch.