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Atlanta Braves Cut Outfielders Emilio Bonifacio and Michael Bourn, Drew Stubbs Makes Team

By Jeff Schafer

Aug 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Bourn (2) watches a game against the Miami Marlins in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Bourn (2) watches a game against the Miami Marlins in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Braves Make Saturday Roster Moves

The Atlanta Braves have officially announced more roster moves for the 2016 season.  Outfielder Michael Bourn and infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio were cut on Saturday morning.  Also, recently signed outfielder Drew Stubbs has made the team as well as relief pitcher Alexi Ogando.

In what seems like a surprise move by the front office to DFA Bourn, the Braves will still owe him $14 million this season.  With Nick Swisher‘s contract and Bourn’s Atlanta will be paying $29 million to players who won’t see an inning for the Braves.

Bourn seemed to be that veteran speedster to help Mallex Smith form a career in Atlanta.  In 18 games, he had a .240/.296/.320 slash line with zero steals, four walks, two triples and 12 strikeouts.  I’m guessing at the end of the day, they weren’t happy about the K’s.

Speaking about K’s…the only hitter to have more strikeouts than Bourn in ST was Bonifacio.  He totaled 17 strikeouts in 23 games played and 51 at-bats.  With Jeff Francoeur officially being added to the 25-man roster on Tuesday, this move was only a matter of time.

Mar 19, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Drew Stubbs (6) hits a three run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Drew Stubbs (6) hits a three run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Also a surprise – Stubbs making the team after just being signed on March 30th.  The 31-year-old has appeared in two games for the Braves going 0-5 at the plate with a walk.  Before being cut by the Texas Rangers on March 29th, Stubbs had 40 at-bats with a .300/.356/.500 slash line.  I guess the Braves saw enough when he was with the Rangers to reason keeping him over Bourn.

A journeyman outfielder, Stubbs has played for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers and now the Atlanta Braves.  He has a career slash line of .244/.313/.395 with 89 home runs and 152 stolen bases….the majority of these stolen bases came between 2010 and 2012 where he had 100.

Oganda seems like a right decision for the bullpen.  He’s pitched well during the 2016 Spring Training, in eight appearances he had a 3.52 ERA with allowing eight hits and three runs.  He did walk three batters, but also struck out eight in his 7.2 innings pitched.  The 32-year-old made the All-Star game in 2011 while pitching for the Texas Rangers.

2010 through 2013, he was a reliable starting and relief pitcher for the Rangers, but struggled his way through the 2014 season.  Once the next big things for the Rangers, he was released in December of 2014.  Boston Redsox picked Ogando up last year – in 64 games he had a 3.99 ERA with a 1.89 K/BB ratio.

The veteran relief pitcher will fit in nicely in the bullpen for the 2016 Braves.

Decisions are still to be made and it sounds like they will wait until after today’s game to answer these questions.  A few to keep in the back of your mind – what do they do with Williams Perez, John Gant, Jose Ramirez and Jhoulys Chacin.

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