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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop

By Alan Carpenter

Apr 6, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) is safe at first base as Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Chaz Roe (50) is unable to hold on to the ball during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) is safe at first base as Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Chaz Roe (50) is unable to hold on to the ball during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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A quick review of the changes happening with the Braves this week.

The Atlanta Braves are hearing you.  More specifically, they are paying attention to what’s been going on.  A record of 6-12 after having briefly reached .500 is telling.  That is leading to changes.

Here’s what we’re learning:

We’ve been itching for bench changes.  We’ve been itching for some bullpen changes.  Now here’s a possibility of changes to both in one shot… with more changes coming.

Well, there’s the rub… the 40-man roster.  There’s another name that could also be knocking on the door for a 40-slot shortly:  Ryan Howard.

Currently, there are 39 names on the list… so how is this going to be managed?  Neither Adams nor Motte are currently on the roster.

Here’s a list of the possibilities:

  • Emilio Bonifacio – he is now hitting .111 with 2 hits on the year.  A DFA is not just plausible here – it’s actually likely.
  • Chaz Roe – currently on the 10-day disabled list with some mysterious injury.  Oddly, his DL assignment doesn’t even appear on the Braves public transactions record.  It is plausible that he might be designated for assignment (DFA).

These moves would give the Braves 3 spots – room for Motte, Lane, and Howard.

  • In case other spots are needed, two Disabled List guys could be moved – in the short term – to the 60-day DL list:  Daniel Winkler and Armando Rivera.  That would free up their spots on the roster for someone else, and is legitimate if they are both indeed expecting to continue in rehab for at least another 35 days.
  • In a tight pinch, Micah Johnson could go to the 60-day list with his mending wrist.  60 days from March 30th might get into the time when he could begin rehab games, but the timing might work out.
  • Next would probably be a DFA for Chase d’Arnaud.  Not ideal, but again this is well down the list.
  • Anthony Recker could be outrighted.  This is probably the worst-case scenario since losing a catcher would be a bad thing.

That outlines the possibilities for the 40-man, but there’s one more slot needed if the team eventually opts for 3 changes:  a 25-man/active roster position.

If Lane Adams effectively replaces Bonifacio, and Motte replaces Roe, then Ryan Howard could replace Anthony Recker, who would be optioned back to Gwinnett.

The trick here is whether Brian Snitker is comfortable with the health of Tyler Flowers to allow a return to two catchers.  If not, then Howard might have to wait a bit longer since d’Arnaud and Jace Peterson are probably sticking around.

Once Cabrera becomes available… Ian Krol?

Braves Trade Hernandez to the Angels

These tweets summarize the reason that the Gwinnett closer is being allowed to depart… and seemingly for so little in return.

What will happen now is that the Braves will probably be scouting a handful of players in the A-ball range that the teams agreed to consider.  One of them will be selected to complete the trade… or the Braves will take the check.

More from Tomahawk Take

Braves vs. Mets

We’re back at CitiField for the second time this year … and we’re still in April.  Here’s the pitching matchups:

With that last matchup, Colon will have as many starts in April in his old home ballpark (2) as in his new one.  Schedules are weird.

It will be a tough set for the Braves – clearly – but the Mets have their own problems (now at 8-11 with Met fans reserving spots on building ledges), so scratching out even 2 or 3 runs each night might be enough if the pitching holds.

UPDATE:  Whether the pitching holds is uncertain.  Whether the weather holds is another matter:

Next: Draft Strategies

Game times are at least scheduled for 7:10p, 7:10p, and 12:10p for a getaway-day game on Thursday.

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