The Braves and Twins have announced a swap that will send infielder/outfielder Danny Santana to Atlanta in exchange for lefty Kevin Chapman and cash considerations. Santana had been designated for assignment by Minnesota.
Atlanta will hope that Santana represents an upgrade for the team’s beleaguered bench. Lane Adams was optioned to open an active roster spot, while the club moved Micah Johnson to the 60-day DL to create 40-man space.
Santana, a 26-year-old switch-hitter, brings plenty of defensive versatility in the field and good speed on the bases. But he has struggled badly at the plate in recent years, posting a cumulative .225/.258/.310 batting line since the start of the 2015 season — with 131 strikeouts against just 19 walks. What remains tantalizing about him, however, was his debut campaign back in 2014, when he slashed .319/.353/.472 with seven home runs and twenty stolen bases.
Chapman has also shown both his talent and some limitations over the years. Across 55 total MLB frames, he owns a 4.09 ERA with 7.9 K/9 against 5.1 BB/9. He has shown bigger swing-and-miss potential at times in the upper minors, though. Since being claimed and outrighted by the Braves, Chapman has tamped down on the walks — a career-low 2.3 per nine — but has been touched for ten earned runs on 14 hits over 11 2/3 innings.
I’ll trade you my garbage for your refuse. Deal!
Played center field in his rookie season, moved in to shortstop the following year – question marks on his defense at short got to his head. That’s my opinion as a Twins fan; shame to see him go, I like him despite the struggles. He’s a useful player on the bench!
Strong rookie campaign from Santana. Don’t know what happened after that
A new uniform is all you need
Tell that to Dontrelle Willis
I haven’t heard that name in a bit
Why you gotta bring the D-Train down like that!
Why you gotta bring the D-Train down like that?
His BABIP that year was .405. He was always going to come back down to earth. His MLB career numbers and MiLB career numbers are nearly identical now. He is what he is. Was never going to be good.
Precursor to Swanson getting sent down?
Nah, just getting the bench bat they’ve needed. Lots of moves today’s from the FO.
Must not being going good if u need danny santana for his bat
This is the bench bat they needed? Oh you are hoping for a higher draft pick, gotcha.
I think Swanson needs to be sent down, but what the hell do I know?
Meh, it’s more a ‘warm body’ situation. Every time we sign a utility player or bring one up, he gets injured. Jace Peterson is playing every night, because he’s subbing in a different position every night.
They’re just cruising until the guys down in A and AA are ready for the bigs in a few years.
Swanson has looked awful at the plate. His batted ball stats are all going in the wrong direction. He’s always had a kind of ugly swing, but maybe going down to AAA and working on it and pitch recognition would do him some good.
Swanson also has an abysmal babip. Seems like when he squares one up its right at someone, not enough power to hit it over an outfielders head and right at infielders. The border line strike calls at the plate are all going against him as well and he is constantly behind in the count. He is not making adjustments as well, opposing pitchers know he has a hard time with breaking balls away and they are also getting anything close called a strike.
If his babip stabilizes and he adjusts to being pitched away he can be an asset at the plate, its a long season and the only way to know if he can make those adjustments is to let him play.
Can’t hit and plays 6 positions all very poorly.
who knows Bullpen depth can’t be worse than this guy
Add him to the J.O.B. squad
pin me. pay me.
What does everyone want? What does everyone need?
This Braves team just gets more pathetic by the day. Lets option Adams but keep Emilio. They seriously trying their best to lose 100 games this season which might happen.
Yeah, very confusing that they’ve had two chances to get rid of Bonafacio and each time he survived despite what looks like the better player getting the axe both times.
Gotta compete with that boring new stadium! oh wait…
Boring! Is that what you are worried about? or you just another bitter fan who is still upset they moved? If you want to worry about their stadium, the main focus should be to figure out why the ball is flying out of the park…other than their garbage pitching!
I’m not a bitter fan, and I couldn’t care less about the Braves. They stink. And they built a stadium that’s as bland and boring as their team is.
And you care why? Braves don’t care what you think, that “boring stadium” is still selling tickets.
Losing 100 games might be the best thing for them. Despite what some braves commentors here incessantly chirped, they aren’t a team that is realistically ready to compete. Get another strong draft to go with their previous ones and their good IFA period.
They were never ready to compete and expecting them to compete in the next 2 years after is unlikely given their ownership. For now, Braves fans can only celebrate their farm system which won’t surprise me if it failed.
Swanson has been a fantasy bust. I hope it doesn’t ruin his baseball card$$$$$
I’ll let you in on a secret: Nobody’s baseball card post 1960 is worth anything
Post 1985 actually.
They released Howard who they’d hoped would’ve filled s much needed bench spot. I would’ve rather added Szczur.