Atlanta Braves Claim Dario Alvarez

Atlanta Braves Claim Dario Alvarez

According to Adam Rubin the Braves added a lefty reliever this afternoon.

According to David O’Brien of the AJC Alvarez was assigned to Gwinnett.

Alvarez was signed as an international free agent by the Phillies in 2007 and was used as a starter in the DSL but they released him in August 2009.

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The Mets gave him another chance in 2013 and again used him as a starter  giving him 12 starts totaling 58 innings in low A where he finished with a 3.10 ERA and 1.276 WHIP. In 2014 he pitches in A where he made six starts and in high A as well as AA where he made nine relief appearance without allowing a run in 12 total innings. He had a cup of coffee with the Mets in September allowing two runs on four hits in 1 1/3 IP.

He started 2015 in AA making 32 relief appearances and covering 31 innings with a  4.06 ERA before moving up to AAA where he three 11 innings over 16 appearances with a 2.89 ERA striking 15.5 hitters per nine. He got another call to New York as well but gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings. Here’s some video from 2015.

This year he’s thrown 15 1/3 innings in 17 games in AAA but his ERA shot up to 9.98 with a 2.087 WHIP and still struck out 15.8 per nine;  you can see why  teams  keep giving him a chance.

When Lucas Duda went on the DL with a stress fracture on the 22nd the Mets DFA’d Alvarez to clear a 40 man spot for infielder Ty Kelly.

That’s a Wrap

Alvarez is another in the Braves hunt for lefty handed relief pitching. They will try to fix him at Gwinnet and hope they can make that big arm something useful.

Next: To trade or not to trade, is that the question?

I found it interesting that when the Angels designated RHP Al Alburquerque for assignment earlier this week the Braves didn’t claim him. Alburquerque has a big league experience but didn’t make a big league appearance this year. He had a 2.40 ERA at AAA Salt Lake with 15 Ks in 15 IP. He also walked nine in those 15 innings and tossed three wild pitches but if we’re taking a chance on wild relief pitchers why not him?