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Carlos Torres Opted Out Of His Atlanta Braves Contract…What’s That Mean?

By Jeff Schafer

Mar 3, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Carlos Torres (17) throws a pitch during the fifth 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 relief pitcher Carlos Torres (17) throws a pitch during the fifth 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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Carlos Torres  Opted Out Of His Braves Contract

One Torres, two Torres, one Torres, none.  The Atlanta Braves had two Torresies, now they have none…at the moment.

January 7, 2016 – the Braves signed free agent left-handed pitcher Alex Torres to a minor league contract and an invitation to Spring Training

February 19, 2016 – the Braves signed free agent right-handed pitcher Carlos Torres to a minor league contract and an invitation to Spring Training

March 28th, 2016 – the Braves reassigned left-handed pitcher Alex Torres to a minor league camp

March 31st, 2016 – Carlos Torres opted out of his contract with the Braves

So the Atlanta Braves had two pitchers with the last name Torres in camp at one time and neither will make the big league roster.  They had some much potential and odds in the favor!!

Carlos is now a free agent after opting out of his contact and can be picked up by another team.  He appeared in seven games this Spring Training, posting a 4.91 ERA, with five walks and five strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched.

Is this the last we’ll have both pitchers?

Possibly not.  As AJC’s David O’Brien posted on twitter, if no other team picked Carlos up, he can come back to the Braves triple-A affiliate – Gwinnett Braves.

So what does this mean?

The Braves bullpen will consist of eight pitchers through the first week and a half of the 2016 season.  Atlanta will not need a fifth starter until April 12th.  Let’s take a look at which pitchers are still left in camp for the bullpen

1. Jason Grilli RHP

2. Jim Johnson RHP

3. Arodys Vizcaino RHP

4. Eric O’Flaherty LHP

5. Alexi Ogando

6. Daniel Winkler

7. Williams Perez

8. John Gant

The names in bold should be considered as locks

Atlanta still has a few decisions to make prior to their Opening Day game on Monday.  One question is who’s the other lefty in the bullpen?  Will they sign someone or make a trade in the final hours before the season?

The final four names on my list are still debatable, but it’s becoming clearer now that Carlos Torres opted out of his contract.  Gant has pitched fantastically this ST, but do the Braves see him as a starter or a reliever?  Perez could be the fifth starter in the rotation or be the long-relief guy out of the bullpen.

Fun news will be coming our way, as it has the past…eh, what do you say two years?

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