Orioles Claim Joey Terdoslavich from Atlanta Braves
Joey Terdoslavich is Freed from Years of AAAA Limbo
Two significant announcement from the Atlanta Braves this afternoon:
The Atlanta #Braves today agreed to terms with free-agent utility man Kelly Johnson on a one year Major League contract for the 2016 season.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 8, 2016
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Braves placed outfielder Joey Terdoslavich on waivers, where he was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 8, 2016
27-year-old Joey Terdoslavich was drafted by Atlanta in 2010 (6th round) and quickly made his way up to the AAA level by 2012… and there he stalled, seemingly never getting a complete chance to show what he could do at the major league level.
With Joey T, there was always somebody blocking his path to a regular major league job, whether Jason Heyward, Nick Markakis, Justin Upton, or now… a host of players that have been connected to left field for 2016.
During his minor league career, Joey hit .280 in 604 games, stroking 68 homers and knocking in 335 runs. In 2015, he hit .281 at Gwinnett with just 4 dingers (gap power is his game).
His longest stint in the majors came as an injury fill-in in 2013: 55 games with 92 plate appearances, but hitting just .215. He fared better in 2014 (.300 in 11 trips to the plate), but his last “audition” this September didn’t go much better: .214 in 59 attempts. Unfortunately, players sometimes don’t have a lot of opportunities to showcase themselves. Miss the chance, and it may never come around again.
Unfortunately, this day became inevitable since Atlanta has to have someplace for Hector Olivera, Adonis Garcia, Kelly Johnson, and perhaps Nick Swisher or Michael Bourn to play. While Terdoslavich is most likely a better option than multiple names on that list, he’s now a victim of the sheer numbers involved: a very full 40-man roster. Atlanta did still have one minor-league option remaining (the ‘bonus 4th option’), but it will be better for him to be cut loose now.
Had Nick Swisher been tradable, a different outcome might have ensued, as Terdoslavich could have filled the same role: a switch-hitting bench bat who can play 3 corner positions (LF/RF/1B).
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The Orioles, by contrast, have been kicking around outfield support options, plus they have another position available that the Braves cannot take advantage of: designated hitter. Joey now has a reasonable shot at sticking with the birds… and we definitely wish him well on this new journey: it’s been a long time coming.