Atlanta Braves Remove Reid Brignac from Roster

Mar 3, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Reid Brignac (4) fields a ground ball during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Reid Brignac (4) fields a ground ball during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Part-timer Brignac DFA’d by Braves, Other Move Pending

The Braves’ 40-man roster was full as of this Friday morning, but that’s no longer the case:

Brignac was used in 13 games, getting 29 AB and hitting .207 with 8 K, 2 doubles and 1 RBI.  He was used as a second or third baseman and pinch-hitter.

Brignac hasn’t had regular major league playing time since 2010-11 with Tampa Bay, hitting .256 in 2010.  Since then, he has bounced around to several locales with few noteworthy results.

It is expected that the Braves will recall pitcher Aaron Blair to start Saturday’s game against the Giants, though it was not necessary to make a 40-man roster move to do so… nor would it be in character to bring him up a day early.

That strongly suggests a new move, which could be one of the following:

  • Recall Adonis Garcia, who is hitting very well at AAA Gwinnett since his demotion.  However, he’s now an outfielder, and that would not seem to make a lot of sense.
  • Purchase the contract of either Dansby Swanson or Ozzie Albies to replace him.  That does make sense…but likely will not happen yet.

Albies is currently hitting .229 at AAA after a slow start and hot spurt.  Swanson, however, is on fire at AA Mississippi, up to .297 with a long hit streak:

Enough Teasing

That kind of excitement aside, the Braves do have a couple of more realistic options:  Sean Kazmar (SS), hitting .293, and Emilio Bonifacio (.288).  If I’m betting, it will be Bonifacio.

Next: Ask Ben Anything!

Will update with more info as it is released.

UPDATE:  It’s Adonis Garcia. 

That’s curious… given the positional issue here.  Don’t have a good explanation at this time unless his presence is simply to be a bench bat.