The Braves have signed outfielder Drew Stubbs to a minor-league deal and invited him to what remains of big-league camp, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports (Twitter links). Stubbs is represented by Lagardere Unlimited.
The Rangers released Stubbs earlier this week after he exercised his opt-out. He struggled with the Rockies and Rangers last year, batting .195/.283/.382 in 140 plate appearances, and he hasn’t hit well overall in his career, generally struggling to hit for average. He is only 31, though, and has a decent track record of providing valuable center field defense and a bit of home-run power.
Bowman notes that the deal could lead the Braves to re-think their outfield depth situation. Bowman also says Jeff Francoeur’s job on the big club is seemingly “safe,” though, and the Braves have what looks like a crowded outfield picture, with Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis, Hector Olivera, Michael Bourn and Francoeur, along with Emilio Bonifacio and Kelly Johnson, who can also play other positions. David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution tweets, however, that he expects the Stubbs deal will lead to Bonifacio’s departure from the organization. Bonifacio is signed to a big-league deal that will pay him $1.25MM.
Why???
I will never understand these comments. They in fact kind of irk me. What do you mean “why”? It’s a MINOR LEAGUE DEAL. It doesn’t hurt the team AT ALL. Besides, it’s not like the Braves are going to be good this year anyway. What do you have to lose? So don’t ask “why?”. Instead ask “why not?.
I understand what you’re saying and I do agree with it to an extent. But, doesn’t it seem odd to pick up a player at this point of spring training who plays a position that was overcrowded before the deal? I’m putting my faith in the moves from a year+ ago, but I’d also like to think that the Braves brain trust isn’t the only people who these kind of deals make sense to. I know there’s more than meets the eye, but some moves (like this one especially) doesn’t seem to me to have any rhyme or reason. If you’re on the lookout, why not look at LH RP instead?
It doesn’t seem that crowded. KJ will play Second and Third. Bonifacio will back up Inciarte. Bourn will back up Olivera & Inciarte. Frenchy’s arm has him backing up Markakis. If any one of these scenarios dont work and Stubbs is hitting then there ya go
Yes but Braves are going to have to release Bonifacio, no?
Then Stubbs/Bourn would back up Olivera/Inciarte. I don’t know all the parameters of the deal, so your guess is as good as mine
I’ve always like Stubbs. He strikes out a TON, but he’s got decent pop against lefties, and boy can he run… Nice pick up for the Johns and company
The closer we het to the season, the more I fear that Inciarte will never play a regular season game for the Braves. Carrying Frenchy did not bother me but this signing plus that give me the feeling that they are working on a deal for the starting rotation
You mean trade Inciarte for someone to put in the starting rotation?
Yes. Sorry for the rambling. It feels like they know they have a valued trade chip and may try to obtain a front of the rotation arm by trading Inciarte and filling the outfield with lesser options until Mallex gets the call
I understand what your saying, but i’d personally would want them to trade Markakis and keep Inciarte. I dont think trading one of the few decent young MLB proven hitters that we have for a starting pitcher is a smart move. We already have enough starters ( already in the rotation or close to being in the rotation) that we need to give a chance to see what they are. Teheran and Wisler already up and Blair, Jenkins, Sims, Gant, Ellis and Newcomb really close. We need to give them a opportunity to see what we have with them before giving away another rotation spot. That’s just my opinion. I didnt even mention Folty and Man Ban
I agree with you if they can find a taker for Markakis I would jump all over it. I think he would be a perfect fit back in B-more. I don’t know what they have to offer the Braves but to take that salary I wouldn’t require much. Put Inciarte in RF and Oliveria in LF and play Bourn in CF until Mallex is ready. Then look for a Stop gap 3rd baseman with some power to bat clean up. Doesn’t have to be a huge masher but somebody better than Garcia. I don’t know how well Sano is adjusting to RF in Minnesota but Plouffe has intrigued me. Maybe he can be had in order to move Sano back to 3rd. I also would love to be able to get my hands on Gary Sanchez. And with McCann blocking him I don’t see how a deal couldn’t be made. Gonna be a very interesting season watching the kids play. Reminds me of the late 80s teams. At the time you go thru the growing pains but the future rewards are tremendous.
Yea I’ve always liked Plouffe as well for some reason. I think he’d be a great addition until one of the young bucks are ready. Markakis is still a productive hitter so I would think a teams prospect in the 10-15 range would be good. Maybe throw in a little money. I think the Braves could get a decent prospect for him with some money thrown in. I don’t think we could get Sanchez unless we gave up more than we wanted to. These new Yankees aren’t like the “Yankess of old” where they want to win at all cost and nobody in there farm is untouchable. I seen where their gm said that their top 4 prospects are untouchable and those 4 players with Severino are the Yankees new core of the future so it would probably take a good bit to get them to let go of Sanchez. Im hoping for Lucas Herbert, Jonathon Morales, Ricardo Rodriguez or Trey Keegan to step up and take that “catcher of the future” role. Plus the guy they’re supposed to get on July 2nd, Abraham Gutierrez is supposed to be really good. I know they’re all a few years away, but hopefully one can step up and get fast tracked
I wouldn’t be surprised at all that some other deal is in the works (whether it is successfully completed or not is another thing). I’m imagine that Stubbs was brought on in case that deal is completed or at worst as minor league depth.
I am not sold on Inciarte I mean I do like the pick up but when Mallex comes up where is he going to play ? Even if they were to deal Markakis which I would not be mad if they did and am actually pushing for it to happen. Would Inciarte’s power plays well in RF with Oliveria in LF ? I mean we have to get power from somewhere. If the return is as good as Coppy been able to pull off so far I would just assume make a deal and let Bourn play CF til Smith is ready.
We don’t NEED power. Tried that under Wren. A lot of Solo Homers and K’s. WOuld you rather have high OBP and speed to wreak havoc on the base path? Inciarte, Aybar, Freeman, Olivera, Markakis will all get on base at a decent clip
So what you are saying Zmallex Smith is not the CF of the future ? You mention Oliveria, Markakis and Inciarte. What I am asking is does Inciarte’s bat play in RF ? If it foes which I hope it will then Coppy needs to look to move Markakis when Smith comes up. Which I hope is the case because I believe Markakis will fall off defensively and will not be an asset in RF. In a perfect world Oliveria plays 3rd and Markskis in LF Mallex in CF and Inciarte in RF but Oliverias threw a wrench in that plan.
I love Mallex but he may or may not be our CF of the future. He hasn’t played a mlb season yet. I think Inciarte’s bat plays whereever you can imagine it. Baseball is changing and holding to the old conventional wisdom that *this position or that position should have these characteristics* should be irrelevant. I think Mallex should learn from Markakis who is as close as you can get to error proof in the outfield. Olivera plays where those above our pay grade feel hes best suited. There’s a reason they want him in left. They have infinitely more knowledge than either of us in this matter.
I don’t know why you think Markakis will fall off? People thought he woudnt hit last year because of his neck but he proved he can and nearly hit .300 on the year. I’m not stat obsessed with homers as a lot of people are (not saying you either) and i see him having an even better season at the plate and in the field than last year. Even a year older.
We’ll be fine. No need to rush Mallex for the sake of fans. I prefer slow and steady wins the race. Besides Nick’s deal is only 2 more seasons.
I like the comment on the whole not obsessed with home runs. Just to put it out there back then in the beggining of the 1890’s mlb players woul hit 300 avg with 100 rbi’s and maybe about 5-10 homeruns.
They also used only one ball for the entire game. “Homerun” Baker never hit double digit HRs. But that was then. This is now.
Power doesn’t mean that the player has to ONLY have power. Just don’t copy the type of players the Orioles acquired this off season.
Oliveria hurts everything by not playing 3rd