The Braves have signed lefty Chris Rusin to a minor league deal and invited him to major league camp, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter).
Rusin made just two appearances for the big league club in Colorado last season, making 25 appearances (10 starts) for the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate. The 33-year-old southpaw spent the last five seasons in Colorado, totaling 164 appearances (29 starts) as a swingman. He put up an overall 4.52 ERA/4.13 FIP, but struggled in 2018 to the tune of a 6.09 ERA/4.94 FIP.
Rusin provides the Braves with a flexible arm from the left side to look at throughout spring training. Though they have more than enough options for both the rotation and bullpen, many of Atlanta’s arms are young, and Rusin could stand in as an injury replacement depending on how the rest of the organization shapes up throughout February and March.
So big whiff on Donaldson. Now a few days later they’ve signed 3 guys to minor deals. At least they have Riley who has 30 homer potential for 3rd base. If they were smart they’d write Chipper a blank check to come work with him in a batting cage.
key word “if “………
Why is Donaldson a whiff ???
So in other words he should have been resigned no matter how much he wanted or no matter how much he could get somewhere else ???
Riley got brought up last year before he was ready and he performed before the league caught up with him. There is no reason to think he can’t be the 3B of the future and in 3 yrs putting up numbers superior to what Donaldson puts up.
The Braves got yo where they are now by following a plan with discipline. No reason to change from that. Fill in the holes with short term deals just like AA did with Donaldson.
I don’t see 3B as a hole I see cleanup as the whole what does it matter what position fills it ???
I really feel Betts is the best option if he is available. He will cost depth prospects and not star prospects because of the remaining control. But if not him I would like to see Castellanos because he is young enough that when Waters is ready his bat would be tradeable to an AL team that could use him in his natural DH position. And for the next 2 years Inciarte & Acuna cover a lot of ground in the OF.
@ steeler. So you want to give away prospects and more money than Donaldson would’ve been paid for Betts. No thanks.
My question exactly
Betts is going to cost a haul of prospects, and a haul of money. For 1 year. Atlanta will not be signing him as a free agent. Period.
I’d rather have Arenado at that cost.
To elaborate, Boston is not going to trade Betts (and deal w/ the fan backlash) without a monumental amount coming to them, outside of salary relief.
You’re talking about prob 3 of the top 4 prospects, and more.
What does everyone think and Souza on a one year prove it deal as a stop gap until pache/waters are ready
Donaldson was/is easily worth 4/92 and that isn’t debatable. Don’t know why that wouldn’t be a “whiff”
We aren’t getting Betts. Not an option.
It’s asinine to suggest Betts would only cost depth prospects. He’s still the best RF in MLB
Betts will cost 100+ million for one year because we would have to take Price too. They have already said they are not trading Betts unless Price is included. They also want two top prospects on top of that.
Heed the advice of your favorite film and let it go. Gimme a break. Let’s take our ball and go home and pout because we didn’t re-sign a guy that was with us for 1-year. WSH didn’t re-sign Harper and won the World Series. They didn’t re-sign Rendon (and won’t make the playoffs…lol). Chipper is a consultant and part-time instructor, meaning he’s been doing that….
That argument makes no sense. The Nats had a great replacement for Harper in Soto. They won the WS so not over-investing in Rendon was reasonable.
The Braves are still hanging up division title banners while lamenting their embarrassing performance in the playoffs.
They over-invested in their rotation re-signing Stras, letting Rendon walk, gambling that their offense wouldn’t take a significant hit. While ATL still has time (and farm, and dollars?) to find a replacement for Donaldson, you’re assuming that Riley/Camargo are the replacements when AA has said multiple times that he’s not going to just hand them the job.
Because a great rotation will always give you a chance to win. They did not have a viable replacement for Stras.
Also, can Braves fans please stop assuming AA is some miracle worker? He has done nothing to elevate the team at all (yet). Acuna, Albies, Soroka, and Freeman are all products of Wren/Coppy. Since becoming the manager, I have seen nothing more than talk. He has done nothing to make the team better from last year. I hope he goes out there and makes a trade for a 3rd baseman but at this point the chances are slim. All talk no show.
At this point, I’d just sign N.C. and go from there. Ozuna will be a mistake.
Pretty sure AA signing Albies and Acuna to those team friendly deals was him.
AA has won a division-title every year since becoming ATL’s GM. Remember, he took over a team that was covered in international scandal and is still penalized. In that they haven’t been connected to any shenanigans is a step in the right direction, which is something considering the most recent missteps with his “more successful” colleagues (Luhnow).
AA hasn’t signed a bad deal, while the Battery has become highly-profitable — though that’s not his credit. Under his watch he’s retained Acuna and signed him what many claim is the most valuable contract in MLB, while also securing Albies in an even better deal. Freeman continues to get better, while guys like Fried have gone from a prospect to valuable starter. Soroka wasn’t drafted by him, but developed by a team that he helped install that was essentially blown up after Coppy. He still has a top-5 farm system he can rely upon in-season and/or deal for impact players, when the deal is there.
I think you don’t understand the mess AA stepped into a managed to clean-up after, seemingly only getting better. To think that a few years ago the Braves GM was banished from the sport and now we see back-to-back titles, a loaded farm, and a healthy fan base — your measure of success I believe is too high. Why can’t this be the start of something and not the end?
Considering your assessment is coming only a few days after they missed out on Donaldson, you’re acting more “butt-hurt” by the missed signing than unbiased. Breathe — it’ll be ok.
Soto was already there. Harper was replaced by Robles and his .745 OPS. Donaldson hit .158 in the playoffs, which is rather embarrassing.
Camargo was a 3.7 WAR as a full-time 3B in 2018, a year before Donaldson arrived. Can he do it again? Not sure, but that’s a pretty nice fallback for next to nothing internally.
He added alot of the fill in pieces, and provided this team with depth the past two seasons which helped them tread water while they dealt with a ton of injuries..
But, then again, that is nothing right?? Some of the best GMs are the ones that are able to foresee injuries, and add valuable depth accordingly. Almost every, single depth option that AA has added over the past two seasons he has hit spot on..Those timely additions are a HUGE reason why the Braves were able to win those division titles.
You clearly have the right to disagree, but you would also clearly be wrong..
Now, AA possibly could have done more to not only get to the playoffs, but win a series. That would be a legitimate argument, and one you would probably even win; however, you will not win any argument that starts with AA has done nothing to elevate this team. A team consists not only of its 25-26man roster, but its ML capable depth in AAA as well. AA did an excellent job of providing the Braves with enough depth to still field a contender while dealing with a rash of injuries..
As a fan of the Braves and Vikes, both teams seemingly know how to make it to the first round of the playoffs and then it’s like you just know they don’t have what it takes to keep going on and compete against the rotation or the QB of the competition.
The rebuilds never take long with either franchise thankfully and there is a ton of credit to be given there, but man the hours spent watching most definitely rack up at the end of the year for it to ALWAYS end it the same way year in and out. Just a crazy coincidence over the last couple decades.
Donaldson wasn’t winning them a WS last year and he ain’t gonna win them one this year. Get over it, clown.
Hard to blame Atlanta, Minn gave him basically 5 years.
Chipper doesn’t want to coach at this point.
Chipper basically is a hitting instructor working with projects and I know he’s done that with Riley. He may not want all the red tape with a full season, but he definitely wants to be around the game and the team by taking the consultant role and being at as many games, practices and spring training as he is. He can’t stay away – and the team is better because of it.
I think he’s happy with his setup. Come in, help out, facetime tips, etc.
But he’s enjoying his hunting in Texas a lot I feel.
” a flexible arm ” … you mean it bends right ?
You must think your funny?
I laughed ….
me too lol
lighten up…… at least he is a lefty
Most would say “depth move” …. all I see is nickels and dimes wasted on a player we will never see play
Although we can’t really complain, we did get a real lefty in Will Smith earlier.
Oh, the complaining from Atlanta “fans” NEVER ever ends here. I recently started posting to counter the endless ranting and griping of our entitled fan base. AA is thinking like a professional (as he is and we are not), and myself and others on here “get it”. Unfortunately we have a rather ripe collection of cranky and crass Chicken Littles who will whine about every move the Braves do or don’t make. That’s their prerogative but an objective mind state is necessary when trying to appreciate the thousands of hurdles a GM must navigate day to day, year to year. Every single one of us wanted Josh back. But wants and needs are entirely different value systems. We all want the finest things in life but we don’t necessarily need them. Baseball is no different.
Pretty dumb statement. AA is no more a professional at this than any business man who has to make financial decisions for a company… end of story. To think otherwise is straight insanity. It’s not rocket science and their entire financial situation is 100% public for the world to see. Not to mention, every baseball “expert” on the planet can see that 3B is our biggest NEED / weakness. And to act like JD is the finest thing in life at 3B is a stupid joke. He was the most impactful option at what turned out to be a super cheap baseball contract that not only would set us up for success now, but maintain it in the future. Why do people not understand that? Why do people act like we would have forfeited everything under the sun to get JD. That’s simply not the case. He likely wouldn’t block anyone, the money is there to lock up people like Freeman and others down the road not to mention, light years away from a lux tax… which is something they consider. Plus, the revenue a successful team brings in would have paid for JD’s cheap contract plus a lot more in year 1. The team, in its current situation, has taken a giant step backwards this offseason even with all the bullpen arms. Let’s not forget we don’t have a 5th starter and are about to roll in with 3 positions platooning… soak that in…
I agreed with everything except the Braves did NEED JD back..The Braves desperately need a cleanup hitter to protect Freeman in the lineup, there is no bigger need then that.
Since signing Smith, Martin, and d’Arnaud that’s been the Braves biggest need all off-season..Unfortunately, it still is the Braves biggest need..
The only want attached to that is the following: If the Braves WANT to make the playoffs, then they NEED a big bat to protect Freeman in their lineup.
Thank you bravesfan88. Good to know some smart fans are out there
I’m not keen on letting your poisonous cynicism get into my system Braves”fan”. But you go ahead and believe your word is the final say because insecure people desperately need that type of validation even if it’s from themselves or burner accounts ;). You’re correct about Donaldson however so batting.500 is pretty awesome…imo.
Then a tip of the hat and good day to you sir…
Keep in mind a lot of the young players will be making significantly more within the next one to three years, and Freddie will be due an extension after next year (assuming we keep him). That alone will inflate our payroll quite a bit.
Won’t be three platoons. 3B- platooning Riley and Camargo won’t happen because it won’t make sense. Riley is a righty and Camargo crushes lefties but can’t hit RHP. As of now, LF will be a platoon. Catcher won’t be a traditional platoon either as both hit right handed; expect Flowers to back up TD.
Atlanta has literally a handful of guys to battle it out for the fifth spot as well as Newc. They do have a fifth starter in that regard, and besides, you’re not using your fifth starter in a playoff series should you make it either. We got tons of young arms, so use that money on a cleanup bat. And yeah, right off the bat, you’re blocking Riley’s natural position for four years by signing JD. Will Riley be as good? Probably not, but you are in fact still blocking a player.
It’s a minor-league deal. Nothing lost.
That’s the thing though. Just cause it’s a minor-league deal doesn’t mean we as fans shouldn’t care how the money used in that minor league deal effects us. If big purchase decision for guys like JD are forgone because of financial reasons, then we as stakeholders in the organization should care about the minor transactions that although seem meaningless and low cost in comparison, actually add up to a decent amt of money. Point being, we shouldn’t waste money simply to waste money. Every decision under this Mgmt needs to be analysis at this moment, as it seems they continue to make poor or questionable decisions. (Albeit somewhat of been good ex Acuna contract). It’s our money we pay (via cable, merchandise, tickets, stocks, etc…)… I think we have a right to be critical of them when they make poor decisions big or small…
Lord.
JD was given 5 years. People didn’t think more than 3 was right, much less 5!
I think it’s fine, Atlanta will be fine. It’s Jan 18th. Still time.
I’m a huge fan of Donaldson and wish he was still in Atlanta, but I was only comfortable with 4 years, max.
The years aspect is an absolutely ridiculous concept to be fixed on. What if we offered him 10 years for just above league min? Would you still scuff because it’s a 10 year deal? His contract was so reasonable from a financial standpoint in baseball terms and affordability in the Braves standpoint it’s ridiculously keep saying it’s a bad contract because it’s 5 years. Btw… it’s basically a 4 year deal. If he performs, it’s an ultra cheap team friendly contract. It’s insanity to think otherwise. All he has to do, is perform at a modest lvl for 2 years of the contract, and it pays for itself.
Its not wasted. It is for depth. That is what the nickels and dimes are for
You can waste your nickel and dimes on better depth moves… in all honesty, you just can. Unless he signed for like min wage and is responsible for shagging balls and collecting equipment, this is a glorified waste of money
I wonder if people who blindly support the Braves still think the team cares about winning more than a division title?
I think it believes in its plan of sustained success.
Donaldson was overpaid in years. No reason to do that. Camargo can keep 3B warm until Riley makes his adjustments. Riley is the 3B and cleanup hitter of the future he has had success at every level why is it hard to believe it won’t carry over to the major league level
People like you would ruin a franchise (a long-term business) for 1 year.
That’s not sustainable.
And you are the GM of what team ????
Friend,you believe that MadBum is the only way to the NL championship…what more can be said??? Are you sure we’re the ones who are blind…or is it you who defies critical thinking in favor of a more emotional approach? I would imagine an objective approach to running a franchise would be preferable to just throwing money at holes in the lineup. I’m open to your emotion before logic approach if you can convince me it’s scientific.
whatever happen to Allourgodshaveabbonedus? Is this you lol…just several name changes later?!
I think the Braves emerged from their rebuild a year early in 2018 so I think I am going to reserve much judgement.
There is a certain amount of realism though. If anyone thinks the Braves are going to push up to $160 or even $180 million, this should be our reality check. If the Braves were waiting for a good time to do just that, this offseason was a good time, but they didnt do that. So we had better just except that the Braves want to act like a middle market club no matter the opportunity.
Exactly!…we finally have a World Series capable roster and when it comes time to ‘get a little crazy’ and go for it the Payroll will always be the #1 priority. You’re right that this should be a wake up call to all of us that the Purse strings will forever be tight until we have a new owner….on the flip side for those who love making excuses for the Braves not spending money we and ‘just be patient’ this should be awake up call that it’s not changing anytime soon; again, not until we have a new Owner invested in winning
Go read my comments and see how angry I am at Mgmt. I blindly support them because I’m a fan, but I will bark up a storm every min they make obviously terrible moves
I wonder if people who blindly support Bumgarner believes his current team will make it to the national league championship series without winning a division title.
Need a bopper in the form of ozuna, casty, or at minimum a healthy puig to protect freeman NEXT unless a big trade at 3b goes down but I won’t hold my breath.
Markakis starting 150 games batting 4th or 5th AGAIN this year is this organization doing the same exact thing it’s done the last 2 seasons and it’s time for a change.
@ chippa. Unlike some of these yahoos who want to trade the farm for a couple years of a star player… You are right Freeman needs protection behind him he’s the perfect 3rd hitter and needs a big bat behind him like he had with Donaldson last year. Ozuna is probably the best option now. Overpay him on a 1 year deal. By 2021 it’s Acuna, Pache, Waters in the outfield for years to come. Oh yeah big pass on Puig here… Not a fan!
in A perfect world yes if you can get Ozuna on a 1 year deal like we got Donaldson it would be perfect
But why on earth would he want a 1 year deal ???
Betts has 1 year left on his contract and the Red Sox can ask for top prospects all they want but the reality is they will not get a top prospect for a guy with 1 year of control left. Especially when his contract is what it is. At the deadline Tex got us Casey Kotchman.
Lol. Casey Kotchman. Meh.
Machado was a 3 month rental that got a top 100 prospect.
Things have changed since the Chapman/Machado deals. Teams aren’t willing to pay so much for rentals. This offseason has shown that. We’ll have to see what the deadline brings.
What’s everybody’s favorite stone Temple pilot track
Atlanta!
Creep? Interstate Love Song? Plush?
Vasoline?
In all actuality the best fit would be Puig but man I do not want him
I think a deal for joc Peterson would be ideal over puig. And if we got joc it would almost force a platoon so markakis doesn’t play anywhere near the games he did last year.
Puig is the antithesis of an Atlanta Brave. Everything about him is terrible. The only logical fit is either Ozuna or Castellanos.
Braves have no need for more pen Arms . Plus a majority of their pen arms are older seasoned vets. Melacon + Smith + O’Day + Martin + Greene + Dayton (6 Vets) + L Jackson =( 7 ) + Webb + Minter + Soboka + Walker + Touki + Burrows + Weigel +++++ Only need to pick 1 young Arm . Hope they can handle that. What they need is a MVP caliber #4 hitter and a upgrade for Markakis hitting 5th.
You ALWAYS have a need for more pen arms. I don’t care who you are. Pitchers take up almost half of your roster spots for 1 position. You can’t have too many. Donaldson’s K rate was up almost 25% last year. People forget that because he hit 37 homers. He’s headed downhill fast………wait and see.
Agreed
Albies
Swanson
Freeman
Acuna
Riley
Markakis/Duvall
d’Arnaud/Flowers
Ender
When Riley is ready, hopefully in May, he can bat 4th and Acuna can bat 1st or 2nd.
Acuna could really press at cleanup & get homer happy. Less base stealing also.
Braves need someone used to hitting # 4.
Why would Snit move Acuna out of the leadoff spot this year? Done that, tried that. Unless Ender or Albies just has a great, great spring training hitting around 500-600, I don’t see Acuna coming out of the #1 hole. Unless he is batting around 100
Does he have options left?
Make Baseball Great Again!
Braves fans, I swear.
Yeah, not handing Donaldson 5 years is def them not wanting to win.
Bingo… more Braves fans need to understand this is a clear sign from mgmt that they are not remotely in win now mode. I’m gonna bypass your implied sarcasm because it’s ultimately a true statement. A 5 year deal seems like a lot, yes… but the contract was dirt cheap. O, and the 5th year is optional. So even if it isn’t exercised, the buyout for the entire contract is still cheap… it pays for itself if Donaldson has 1 good year.
that has got to be one the dumbest comments Ive read. without going back and looking, Donaldson’s contract was 4 yrs and with the buyout approx 80-90mil? you said it pays for itself if he has 1 good year….so essentially you are saying that it’s worth it to pay Donaldson a 1yr ~90mil contract hahahahaha
The Braves were smart to not pony up a 4 year deal for JD
Braves 2015… there is a legit argument that per the revenue these players generate, they are outrageous underpaid. Just because someone doesn’t have a $90 mil contract, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. And I will concede, my statement is a tad embellished… but the math works. The age old saying, you put a good product on the field, people pay for it. Braves #’s are public… just go look. They could make that money back in a couple years with him easy. After 4, any additional would just be icing on the cake.
Btw to match the “dumb comment”, no one judges a value of a contract based on years. If he was giving a 10 year contract at just above league min, no one would argue that it’s a bad deal because it’s 10 years long lol. So just because the Braves didn’t “pony up” to 4 years, doesn’t make that his contract was bad. His contract was great value
There’s many of us who find this cynical approach really off putting. There’s no evidence of these statements “Braves aren’t in win mode” or they’re cheap or don’t care. No evidence at all. These are “feel” statements…emotional and illogical responses to a “wants” versus “needs” reality. I “want” free tickets for life to Braves baseball. I don’t get them so therefore you are a horrible person to not get those for me. Your needs don’t matter. Mine do. See the flaws in this?
Everything you suggest there isn’t evidence for, there is literally evidence. If there #’s weren’t public then I’d concede some, but…. I’m afraid your quite off here. See the flaw? Plus sports and business have a lot of emotion in it…. so it’s ridiculous to say otherwise. When has anyone made a decision to buy anything without some sort of emotion in it? If you didn’t, you’re lying. Psychology 101 economics 101
and it’s not like they didnt improve elsewhere, and otherwise lost little in the way of departing free agents
Not going to lie. I’ve never heard of him
This is a situation where his agent has a good relationship with a scout or Braves member, and he was able to convince them to give him a trial.
Rusin bag
Was hoping he’d sign w LA so he could be the California Rusin
Starting the season with Riley manning 3b while batting 4th and markakis batting 5th is not a good thought whatsoever, basically taking the bat out of Freddies hands until we see who the real Riley is. We’d basically be reversing back to 2018 and although camargo had a decent season, he’s not the every day answer at 3rd on this team.
There’s still 2 major moves to be executed, hope the brass wants it like the fans do is all.
Riley isn’t batting 4th until he proves himself. More likely a combination of Markakis, Duvall and maybe d’Arnaud.
That’s scary after 2 consecutive division titles and a long successful rebuild.
Now if the baseball keeps it’s same exact physics as yesteryear, Duvall is a major wild card imho and I really fought for his call up all last season while he mashed.
I agree but the question is what type of player are you trying to fill the cleanup spot ?
You sign Ozuna or Castellanos you block Waters or Pache in another year or 2 and he would still be on the roster
Trade for arenado he has the opt out and the prospect cost will be high
Trade for Bryant the prospect cost is high and you get 2 years
Puig can be bad for 2 years
Betts is not costing a Top 5 system prospect. 1 from 6-10 and another from 11-15 with a bullpen piece like Greene gets it done or a Newcomb, Greene & Wright could do it. He is signed for 1 year he is not resigning without testing FA & they want to get under the luxury tax.
But why does Acuna have to lead off or Freddie have to hit 3 ???
The Braves offense was a lot of dynamic with Acuna batting leadoff then when he was in the 4th spot, that’s why they moved him back. Maybe if Dansby or someone else steps up you move Albies to 3 and Freeman to 4.
Why trade any prospects for Betts? You are right, he will test FA, he is making 27 million this year, meaning he will want 30+ million a year in free agency. The Braves won’t/can’t pay that.
I don’t want Riley starting at 3B to start the year he got adjustments to make
Camargo is fine til Riley is ready
YOU don’t know anything about Riley, spring training hasn’t started yet. For all you know, he has made those adjustments this winter. Let’s just wait till spring and let things work out themselves then. If Riley hits/plays like he did when he come-up last season, I’d say he starts at 3rd.
I hope the Braves go in the other direction and use whatever money they would have spent on JD to buy/acquire some legitimate pitching. Trade Folty for whatever you can get — that volatile basket case can and will implode any given day he takes the mound.
Don’t ever worry about blocking a player not named someone like trout or acuna. Too much talent always figures itself out, injuries happen, can always unload via trade, and some guys like Riley get figured out quickly at the big league level and have to adjust. Hell theyre playing for pennies on the dollar while they try to steal somebodys spot anyhow.
The very last thing I’d be concerned about with the Atlanta Braves in their current position is blocking anybody because they’re set up to go to the WS as we speak and possibly win it with a big time bat and one more “ace”.
~It’s as clear as ice~
Is it just me, or are a lot of the people who bashed AA for dropping $25MM on Josh Donaldson last year bashing him again this year for not signing that same guy to a five-year deal at about the same AAV?