Charlie Culberson is back with the Braves, as the veteran’s MLB.com profile page reveals that the veteran utilityman has signed a new minor league deal with the team. Culberson was designated for assignment and outrighted off Atlanta’s 40-man roster within the last week, and he elected to become a free agent on Thursday.
This is the second time in a little over a month that Culberson was DFA’ed and outrighted, and then went into free agency only to shortly re-sign with the Braves. It continues a curious 2023 season for the veteran, who has spent over two months on Atlanta’s active roster with only a single in-game appearance — a pinch-hit single on July 16, in an 8-1 Braves loss to the White Sox. Since the Braves’ core of position players have been so generally durable and overall impressive this season, there simply hasn’t been much playing time available for any of the bench players, let alone a proverbial 26th man like Culberson.
Still, the organization obviously has a kinship with Culberson, who previously played for the Braves from 2018-20 and hails from nearby Rome, Georgia. He’ll head to Triple-A Gwinnett for now, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him back on the active roster sooner than later, even if trade deadline acquisition Nicky Lopez will now be Atlanta’s top backup infield option.
With at least one game played this year, Culberson has now been a part of 11 different Major League seasons since debuting with the Giants in 2012. Culberson has hit .248/.294/.386 over 1312 career plate appearances, appearing in 586 games with the Giants, Rockies, Dodgers, Rangers, and Braves while getting significant playing time at every position except catcher and center field.
Braves and Culberson relationship is like a bad fishing story, released again and again just to relatch him again .
At this point, the Braves are fust jucking with this guy.
They are paying Charlie well to continue to play a boy’s game. They also give him the ability to do that while living in an area he likes surrounded by a friendly organization and fans that love him. I bet many people would love to be in that situation.
@southi,
I’m fust jucking with yous.
Culberson’s dad has to warm up again.
I’ll take redundant things for a $1000 Alex
Hmmm, the Braves traded for Nicky Lopez and yet he still hasn’t had been put into a game yet. He is a great fielder but a poor hitter, why even trade for him?
@noiro: You answered your own question. “……why even trade for him?” The Braves were using Charlie Culberson as their infield defensive replacement. Neither can hit, but that’s not what the Braves need. Lopez defense and positional versatility trumps Culberson. Easy choice.
I put in a word for you with the organization. I told ’em I thought you might make a fine minor league manager someday. There might be an opening at Visalia next year.
“ he elected to become a free agency on Thursday.”
I want to become a free agency when I grow up
Never stop dreaming big my son!
I can’t quit you
I can see Charlie getting brought into the organization as a coach in the minor leagues and moving his way up. The Braves have a remarkable history of finding and mentoring coaches especially guys who have played for the team.
I’m thinking Grissom and Shewmake will be up when rosters expand. Anybody else have a guess?
Pretty reasonable guess. I would think either Shewmake or Grissom (probably Grissom) and either Soroka or Smith-Shawver, just because pitching has been a pretty big focus for Braves roster builders as of late.
Roster only expand from 26 to 28 now adding 1 pitcher and 1 position player. I don’t think Grissom or Shewmake would be called up until after 3A season ends just because it is more valuable for them to play regularly than sit in watch 5 or 6 games a week and maybe play once. Braves will just be adding a pen arm until Wright has returned and just rotating guys around in the 5th spot maybe using it as a way to push a guy back a day for rest for playoffs.
This is the third time he’s signed with ATL this year. Does he get the full amount of the contract when he is DFA’d, provided it’s contingent on being on ML roster? In other words, does he benefit from getting released, passed thru waivers then signed again by another team (or ATL)?
It probably doesn’t matter because he was on a minor league split deal. He’s just on a new one now so I doubt he left any $ on the table.
He was getting a prorated league min of $720k when he was up. According to Spotrac Braves paid him $116,130 and $123,872 for his two times up with the big club plus whatever salary he is making in 3A which will be more than min there. Plus he gained 62 days towards his pension which is an additional quarter meaning an extra $5750 a year when that kicks in.
I mean, clearly both sides are in love with each other and that’s perfectly fine. He must elect free agency each time to sweeten the pot a little each time. Like a small bonus for making the 40 man or something.
Truth is, if he ends up playing at all with Lopez on the roster, we have really hit a low spot somewhere. He’s a player coach at this point
going back jack do it again
Wheel turnin’ ‘round and ‘round
I love the classics
Someday they will make a movie about this man.
They already made that movie, “Groundhog Day”
Can he pitch out of the pen? The Braves demise will be their bullpen come playoff time.
You still want Acuna gone? Also according to Fangraphs the braves have the third best bullpen in MLB. I’d be more worried about the rotation. Never change, allgodshaveabandonedus!
Let’s hope he brings up MadBum again.
Acuna for the first time in his career has played like a superstar. So no!
Fair enough, I agree. Hopefully the starting pitching will hold up, that’s what worries me.
@TradeAcuna: Finally. How many times did I (and others on here) tell you that when Acuna fully recovered from his knee injury he’d be back to his old superstar self………..
Culberson’s one of those guys who seems like he’s been around since ‘Nam. Hard to believe he’s only 34.
The braves should give him some sort of coaching job some time.
Make this punishment stop !
Braves and Culberson are like that couple in high school who broke up, got back together, broke up, got back together…..it was impossible to keep up.
This just in – The Braves have released Culbertson again, resigned him, then Released Him Again. Reports vary, But the rumor is that they plan on re signing him.
Tony Clark just watching this abuse without uttering a word.
Do other teams make him an offer while he’s a free agent each time? Probably not; it seems to be an accepted maneuver to clear space for new acquisitions. Other teams might be doing likewise with one of their aging, marginal favorite sons.
There are 3 certainties in life…death, taxes, and Braves resign Charlie Culberson.
Quick: without looking, who has been acquired more times by the Braves: Culberson, Kelly Johnson, or Jesse Chavez? The trio should have a special section in the Braves HOF.