Why the Braves Lost Todd Cunningham
Jun 1, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder
Todd Cunningham(26) breaks his bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
If you missed the post we made last night on this site, Todd Cunningham is now a member of the Los Angeles Angels organization.
You might have wondered “Why did they do that?” or “Couldn’t they have traded him?”.
It’s actually likely that some inquiries about a trade were made… or perhaps the Braves might have simply tried to just sneak him through while other teams were shuffling their own decks of player cards.
Between now and roughly Thanksgiving, teams need to do several roster adjustments – Fred alluded to this in his discussion last night.
The disabled list is dissolved at season’s end (after the playoffs). Players that had been carried as 60-day Disabled List casualties have to be given ‘real’ roster spots and free agents have to be turned loose.
In addition, teams must figure out who they wish to continue to carry on the 40-man roster – or add to that roster – for the purposes of protection from the Rule 5 Draft, which happens at the end of the Winter Meetings (to be held December 6-10 in Nashville this year).
Since there is the possibility of adding players via free agency, trade, or … the Rule 5 Draft… the Braves need to pare down the roster to allow for those potential additions.
As Fred pointed out, the Braves have out-righted three players (removed them from the 40-man roster) in preparation for that:
It’s probably debatable whether Coppolella thought he could actually do the same with Cunningham without losing him. It almost worked, too: the Angels were not that high on the waiver order list… only this year’s AL playoff teams ranked lower.
One thing for certain, though: Coppy was willing to risk this loss, which seems to signal one of two new possibilities:
- Mallex Smith has moved up in the OF pecking order a notch, or
- There are plans to go after an outfield replacement
Feel free to speculate wildly about which of these is the correct answer.
As of this time, there are 39 names on the 40-man list… and that includes the players still on the 60-day DL: Jason Grilli, Paco Rodriguez, Shae Simmons, and Chris Withrow.
Soon to become free agents (those not under team control) are Ross Detwiler, Edwin Jackson, and A.J. Pierzynski. Thus the list will be at 36 names once these players are freed – if nothing else is done between now and the end of the World Series.
Atlanta can re-sign their own free agents – and have expressed interest in doing so with Pierzynski. But there isn’t likely to news on that front before the end of the playoffs.