Right-handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. has opted out of his minor league deal with the Braves and is now a free agent, tweets Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He’d been vying for one of the final spots in the Atlanta ’pen.
Edwards has allowed just one run and punched out eight batters in 8 1/3 innings this spring, but he’s also surrendered seven hits and walked six batters. Control has never been a strong point for the lanky right-hander, and his lackluster command of the zone this spring seemed to leave him behind fellow non-roster invitee Nate Jones in terms of the pair’s chances to make the roster.
Now 29 years old, Edwards was a key reliever for the Cubs from 2015-18, pitching to a combined 3.06 ERA with a hefty 33.9 percent strikeout rate over the life of 159 innings. His effectiveness dipped early in the 2019 season, however, and he’s been mired in something of a downward spiral since. Edwards has been tagged for 18 runs on 14 hits and 14 walks apiece over his past 21 2/3 big league innings, battling shoulder and forearm injuries along the way.
CubsWin108
Moron
cubsnomore
Maybe he has offers lined up?
johnrealtime
Stop embarrassing cubs fans. You know nothing about the details in this situation. you appear to be the moron
looiebelongsinthehall
He was told he wasn’t making the team and was probably also told he has a minor league spot if he wants it. Would anyone be surprised if he has no offers lined up that he resigns with Atlanta?
Metsfan9
Probably figures he could grab a bigger bullpen role on a lesser team
FredMcGriff for the HOF
Comparing Nate Jones and Edwards just off this years spring training Nate has had by far the better spring. Carl 8.1 innings 1.560 WHIP. Nate 6.1 innings 0.316 WHIP. While Nate is older his career has been longer and quite good with the White Sox.
stan lee the manly
Cubs should sign him, they have that whole bringing the band back together feel going on this year.
Audrey
Bringing the whole band back together, but only Arrieta was the one desperate enough to come back.
Vizionaire
please take former cubs from the angels!
bravesfan28
Odd. I thought him and Nate Jones would fill out the bullpen for the Braves.
samthebravesfan
Maybe he got an indication he wouldn’t make the team. He kept runs off the board but he was walking guys.
RunDMC
Or maybe he thought his showing was deserving of more than a minor-league deal.
jdgoat
The results look good this spring but that’s an awful lot of baserunners. Don’t blame them for not buying into those numbers.
Lloyd Emerson
Who wants some Hardees???
FletcherFan60
Aw man, hopefully his dad can help him out and get him a Nascar ride or something
bravesfan
Seems dumb. Who out there is gonna sign him to a major league deal? A bad team maybe? I can promise you he would ultimately get a shot at the pen this season with the Braves at some point and he’d be with a contender…
mlbnyyfan
Back to the Cubs or Rangers
Appalachian_Outlaw
Jones has been solid, though. That was his main competition. So I’m not so sure he would’ve gotten a shot.
I’d have taken Edwards Jr. over Jackson, but the Braves brass seem to be oddly enamored with Jackson. So I don’t see who’s spot Edwards would take?
bravesfan
The bullpen is such an odd organism when you think about it. Each pitcher is theoretically a big swing guy that can be great one year and bad the next. Lot of them can have that same swing in a single season. The injured in that part of the team is high. So CEJ would have likely had a shot simply out of pure need. For example, Jackson implodes like 2020… that leash is short, he will be gone if he doesn’t perform. Minter isn’t exactly known for being healthy all the time. See what I mean? The opportunity would likely present itself naturally assuming he pitched well in the minors. I just don’t see any team giving him a major league deal and I don’t see a situation that would be much better than what he would get in ATL
Dorothy_Mantooth
With the exception of a very poor 17 innings in 2019 (I think he got injured that year) Carl Edwards, Jr. has been a rock-solid reliever. Sure he walks a lot of batters for a RP (career 5.0 BB/9) but he strikes out well over a batter per inning and has done a great job of keeping runs off the board. I’m surprised he didn’t receive a major league contract this year, but he should definitely latch on with some team as he will come cheap now that he’s a free agent. Wouldn’t mind seeing Boston pick him up and move on from Valdez.
kayjaygee626
Might as well go to the halos with joe like everyone else
watford dodger
I like him – he’s got electric stuff on a good day
Franco27
Dude needs to lay off the weed and get serious about his career. He always had the talent, but has never put it all together.
fried-man
Judging by his photo, he definitely looks like he might forget he even opted out. lol
chicagofan1978
Who says he smokes weed?
thebare54
Let’s all stop being Trolls if it not positive keep off your key board just try for a week I know it’s hard I’m a Chicago all sport fan . ( 1week )
thebare54
Be positive yes we all love are teams & know we can be the GM’s lol
Braves20
Lesser arms who have no options are left in the already depleted Braves’ pen..
hurricanewar23
Rangers bullpen needs some arms, could see him coming to Texas
Joel Peterson
Kind of ridiculous people keep quoting his stats as if 8 innings of spring training ball is a fair way to judge any player at all.
brucebochyisthemarlboroman
This guy gets it