Atlanta Braves News: The Afternoon Chop, Micah Johnson To Have Surgery, Offseason Review
By Jeff Schafer
Offseason In Review: Atlanta Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Some could say the Atlanta Braves 2016-2017 offseason was pretty tame. They didn’t make a huge splash or sign a big free agents … They did however sign/trade for extremely key pieces for their 2017 season. Over half of the starting rotation is new — three out of five pitchers are brand new to the organization. Brandon Phillips joins the lineup and the Braves added bullpen help.
It’s tough to grade the Braves and General Manager John Coppolella offseason. We’re all extremely excited for the season, the team, the new ballpark, and everything else going into the regular season. But did we do enough these last few months to prepare for a late-season run to the playoffs? The players believe they did.
The Braves could still make a move or two within the last two weeks of spring training … It’s very possible they do. Possibly a bench bat/4th outfielder and maybe a bullpen arm if Coppy sees a fit.
As we sit in the middle of March, I’d grade the Braves offseason as a solid B.
"The pace of moves coming from the Atlanta front office remains dizzying. This time around, while there were still many forward-looking transactions, the club increasingly turned its attention to investing in the 2017 roster.That’s not to say that the Braves went wild in a push to win now; after all, the club won only 68 games in 2016, despite a strong finish. Instead, the vast bulk of the club’s investments in veteran players are of the one-year variety. The club clearly hopes to boost its on-field product with a new park opening while steering clear of the kinds of moves that could hamper more dedicated future efforts at contending.GM John Coppolella promised that the rotation would be the focus, and he followed through on that early. Atlanta added two of the game’s oldest players, Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey, on mid-priced, one-year deals. Talented lefty Jaime Garcia joined the fold, too, in a deal that cost the organization two reasonably promising pitching prospects in John Gant and Chris Ellis."
Braves’ Micah Johnson will have surgery for fractured wrist
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Ouch. Just when we thought Micah Johnson and the Braves avoided a major injury, we got the news about the “S” word.
Johnson will have surgery on his left wrist after he fractured it on a dive in the outfield. After initial x-rays, reports were that it was just a sprained wrist.
The 26-year-old will be out for a while. Sucks.
The Braves have now lost Sean Rodriguez, Micah Johnson, prospect Dustin Peterson and possibly Armando Rivero (shoulder) so far this spring.
"Micah Johnson’s first season with the Braves might be over before it began, with a left-wrist fracture that will require surgery."
"The infielder-outfielder’s bid for a bench job ended Tuesday when Johnson injured his wrist making a spectacular diving catch near the left-field line in a Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. Initial X-rays showed no break, and the injury was diagnosed as sprain, but further tests done Wednesday revealed the fracture."
"Braves head team physician Dr. Gary Lourie will perform the surgery Friday. The team gave no timetable for his recovery."
Next: Early Look At The Braves 2017 MLB Draft Plans
Braves’ latest spring moves provide further clarity for bench
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Braves should have Jace Peterson, Chase d’Arnaud and Rio Ruiz coming off the bench to start the 2017 season…but is that enough? Emilio Bonifacio could make the team out of spring training to be the fourth bench bat, but what does that really give the Braves? A veteran, with speed? Yeah, that could help. Bonifacio is still only 31-years-old. Guess I’m still on the fence. Coppy could also be out of money and that’s why we haven’t signed anyone else yet. It’s possible we save now and see what we have.
"Then there’s the belief that the Braves could go outside the organization to add that final bench piece.Outfielder Angel Pagan, who can provide insurance behind Ender Inciarte in center, remains a free agent after hitting .277/.331/.418 last season with the Giants. The 35-year-old recently said the Braves were among a trio of teams that had offered him minor-league contracts, which he rejected. According to FanRag’s Jon Heyman, a deal with the Orioles fell through due to a failed physical.Whether the Braves are willing to meet Pagan or add another piece off another team’s waiver moves — like last year with Drew Stubbs — Camargo joining Triple-A at least removes one option for the final bench piece."