Eddie Rosario is back with the Braves, as Atlanta selected the veteran outfielder onto the MLB roster. The Braves also recalled right-hander Bryce Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett to start tonight’s contest with the D-Backs. Reliever Dylan Lee and utilityman Luke Williams were optioned out in corresponding moves. The Braves designated outfielder J.P. Martínez for assignment to create a 40-man roster spot for Rosario — a move that was reported this morning.
It’ll be Rosario’s fourth straight season logging MLB action as a Brave. Atlanta’s decision to buy low on the veteran outfielder at the 2021 trade deadline is etched into franchise history. The generally streaky Rosario caught fire down the stretch and into October, winning NLCS MVP honors and helping the Braves to a World Series. Atlanta re-signed him to a two-year, $18MM free agent deal that offseason.
The extension didn’t work out as hoped. He battled vision issues and slumped to a .212/.259/.328 batting line during the first season. Rosario bounced back somewhat to hit 21 home runs a year ago, though his .255/.305/.450 slash was average overall. Atlanta declined a $9MM option for the 2024 campaign, sending the 32-year-old back to the open market. Rosario lingered in free agency until Spring Training was underway. He eventually signed a minor league deal with the Nationals and locked in a $2MM salary when he made the team out of camp.
Rosario’s time in Washington was a disappointment. He got out to a dreadful first month, hitting .088 with just one homer through the end of April. The lefty-swinging outfielder connected on six longballs and five doubles in an impressive May before falling back into an extended slump. He hit .191/.200/.250 in June. The Nats pulled the plug last week, calling up top prospect James Wood and releasing Rosario after it became clear he wouldn’t play his way into being a valuable trade chip. Rosario finished his Washington tenure with a .183/.226/.329 slash across 235 plate appearances. He’s a .227/.275/.390 hitter over the past two and a half seasons.
That set the stage for another shot in Atlanta. The Braves inked Rosario to a minor league deal on Friday. After a trio of appearances for Gwinnett, he’s back in the MLB outfield. He could step into a left field platoon with the righty-swinging Ramón Laureano, who signed a minor league deal with Atlanta in May after being released by the Guardians. Laureano has been nursing a back issue for over a week, so Eli White (whose contract was just selected on Friday) started in left field for all three games of Atlanta’s weekend series with the Phillies.
Jarred Kelenic is playing every day in center field while Michael Harris II mends a hamstring strain. Adam Duvall is handling right field. The outfield is a clear weak point for the Braves since they lost Ronald Acuña Jr. to a season-ending ACL tear. It’s entirely unsurprising that they’re evaluating trade possibilities before the July 30 deadline. Rosario’s return stint with the Braves could be brief if president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos and his staff can land a more significant upgrade over the next few weeks.
For the time being, the Braves will take a low-cost roll of the dice on Rosario hitting a hot streak in a familiar setting. Atlanta will only pay him the prorated portion of the $740K league minimum for however long he’s on the roster. The Nats remain on the hook for the rest of his salary.
No one is surprised by this.
Garbage in, garbage out.
“Garbage in, garbage out”…You must not watch much baseball. The last time this guy was here he was a NLCS MVP and played a huge part in Atlanta winning the ’21 World Series.
Did you go into a coma on Nov 3rd 2021 and just come out it?
Ignorant reply and up votes. It isn’t’ 2021. Did you watch him play with Washigton?
Update–the ignorant reply has either been deleted or I hurt his feelings and he blocked me. Doh!
@Brian: When you’re blocked, you still see the comments but you no longer have the option of replying to the “blocker.” If you block someone, you don’t see their comments.
Thanks. I always wondered how that worked.
Is Nashville ever going to bring a team home??
I’ll take it back but it’s like my brewers bringing in Dallas
I am vastly underwhelmed. Lightning does not tend to strike repeatedly in the same place. It is EXTREMELY doubtful that Rosario can duplicate his past success with the Braves.
Then again, there is the walking exception known as Jesse Chavez…
I don’t think they are expecting him to completely duplicate what he did in 21 but I think they are hoping to catch one of his month long hot streaks to sustain until the deadline.
And yet they let him walk. Your hometown is over valuing him. He is good when in but he is not a great player.
Dylan Lee is garbage? I’m pretty sure most people would take Rosario’s career in a heartbeat. But garbage this year? Can’t argue so far. Even Elder is not garbage. He’s a viable rotation option for most clubs. Believe his last start was quite excellent.
I want to apologize for being a repetitive troll. Clearly I am obsessed with Trevor Bauer. I have nothing better to do than repeat the same comment on every article on this website and many others. I will get the help I need. Thank you.
Bandaid until the deadline is closer for a deal. There also thinking he could get back to playing like he did in his braves days
Deep down, you are really obsessed with his kinkiness.
Maybe he needs a couple of smacks from his hero, just because they both enjoy that.
No problem. That’s why we have the Mute button.
Trevor Bauer would be an amazing get for the Braves I just don’t understand the distaste of him. Then again the MLB hates players who will speak their mind.
Comments like this are possibly why Nashville will never have an MLB franchise.
Care to elaborate a little as to why you think that?
I believe it’s about as self explanatory as it gets, but don’t let that stop you from proving my point.
Ok bud.
You need a comma between Ok and bud in order to deliver the full impact of your sick burn. I’m here to help.
They will eventually
@Bart: Yikes. All Nashvillians aren’t of the same mind as BfinTN.
@NashvilleJeff,
You’re correct, and I’m aware of that. I just think one is entitled to a little latitude when breaking balls.
I’m a Braves fan as well, and I do NOT want to see Trevor Bauer on the team. Keeping it strictly baseball , it is far from guaranteed he’d even do anything if signed, anyway.
The Braves also need OF help more than they need starting pitchers.
Ohh I agree with the needing outfield help. I’m not saying sign Bauer but you could do a lot worse. From everything I have heard and read it’s a mix on Bauers clubhouse presence, so if he was a nuisance in the clubhouse don’t do it but if he lets the young pitchers lean on him and learn take a flyer on him for a year and see. But again he isn’t at the top of my list (my list does not matter) but I’d be looking OF, SS, RP, then SP
Bauer would be #4 in the Braves rotation today.
He hasn’t gotten a Major League out in how long? I’m not sure what makes you so confident he would even be effective.
At any rate, I don’t care if he’d be the #1, I still don’t want to see him on a team I root for.
@Appalachian_Outlaw He can get major league hitters out. Deal with it.
I mean they are okay with guys who beat women so that’s not a roadblock.
You mean the woman who is now being charged with fraud? I’m not now nor never will support anyone who beats on anyone but I will not blindly support an accuser either. If he indeed did do it then yeah he should never play again, but if he didn’t then why hold the man back from making a living.
Well you aren’t alone. Id be thrilled if the braves picked him up. I mean hell, he’d take the league minimum. Worst case scenario he doesn’t outperform your 5th best starter and you’re out basically nothing. Not like the braves have taken the high road in regards to other allegations against players (some with more proof) ie Ozuna. I’d be all for a Trevor signing.
And that isn’t a knock on the braves. I’m all for giving people a second or third chance.
Wow wee what a huge surprise once Ronald goes down they immediately miss Rosario
Rosario has been living off those 2 months in 21′ for the Braves for years now…it’s crazy lol
Death. Taxes. Rosario to the Braves.
I thought it was Duvall to the Braves.
I thought it was Adam LaRoche to the Braves.
Kelly Johnson too.
Jesse Chavez to the Braves
That’ll put ’em over.
Snit: Hey Dylan, I need to talk to you.
Dylan Lee: I’m an injury replacement for the All Star Team?!?!?!?
Snit: Uh hold on a second. *Picks up phone*. Alex get your butt down here, you’re gonna have to explain this to him.
Hate to see Lee optioned. He’s cursed because he’s one of a couple of pitchers on the 26 man who have options. They won’t dfa Chavez. Holmes is safe for now too. Lee and Daysbel Hernandez should be up, but it’s tough holding down a spot in a strong Braves pen w/limited optionable pitchers.
Nah
Lee was sent down just so Elder can pitch his usual 2 innings of 5 BB & 6 Runs
Sensationalism. How often has elder actually gone 2 innings or walked 5?
I would say the thing with Elder is to look beyond the stats even. Every time he goes out there there is about a 50% chance he is gonna do well and an equal chance for a blowup. At the end of the day for a 4th or 5th starter what more can you ask for? It would be different if he gave up four+ runs every start but what actually happens is more like 6 inning shutout, 3 1/3 7 runs, 6 innings 2 runs, 5 innings 3 runs, 5 innings 5 runs, etc. put it all together and it looks bad but it’s really decent honestly. And let’s not forget the age. He could get a bit better.
Elder’s FIP is a full run lower than his ERA.
Very small sample. I wouldn’t focus on his numbers this year too much. He’s been on the shuttle back and forth and got destroyed by LAD if I recall. He hasn’t really been given any long look beyond about 4 starts where he was again good and bad. There were too many other options to let him have a longer look when he was struggling. Now those options are largely on the IL. There is a serious chance that there will be a 6 man rotation I think, if he is decent. Sale and Lopez need even more rest to keep the innings down imo.
In 46 starts, Elder has never gone just 2 innings, and has only given up 5 walks three times and more than 5 earned runs three times.
They are likely thinking of the playoffs when he went 2+ or so. And even then it was typical Elder 50/50 I mentioned. Dominant 2 innings atrocious 3rd inning.Usually it’s more start to start for him than inning to inning tho.
This is completely harmless – Rosario is on league minimum and if he’s good, great, if he’s bad, he can be replaced at the deadline.
I back him to hit better than Wall and Eli White
AA is playing 8D cold-fusion Parcheesi.
Wonder what the odds of him being cut loose when fellow lefty michael harris returns
That’s possible pool hall but White is probably the of’er most likely to lose a 26 man spot.
If he hits, there’s room for him. Duvall has been terrible vs RHP. but has an .872 OPS vs LHP this year. When Harris comes back, Adam will likely slide back to a platoon role.
The key though, is Eddie needs to hit. It’s a 3 week trial for him before the deadline.
(WTF Happened) Sale?
Over/Under for Elder Runs-4.5, HRs-2.5,
Walks-4.5, Ks-2.5, WP-1.5, Mound Visits- 1.5
Braves doing what they’ve done w/Sale and Lopez all season. Using another starter to give them an extra day (or two) of rest. Why not? It’s worked well so far.
The only thing I can figure is Snit was told Sale wasn’t starting the ASG, so he’s giving Sale an extra day off so he can start Sunday and again right after the break.
To all the clowns out there that think this is a great move there a reason the Braves let this 2021 “star” leave! He’s dookie! Couldn’t even stick in Washington for crying out loud. All these people that are rooting for Joc and Soler moves as well are just as clueless and are too drunk on nostalgia! They’re has-beens. Find actual help. A Kelenic led outfield isn’t gonna get them anywhere but to country clubs!
Harris II will be back right after the AS break. When he returns there will be only one massive hole in the outfield. Hang in there.
I don’t recall seeing any comments saying this is a great move. It’s more of a low-risk flyer.
I don’t think anyone is rooting for Soler/Pederson, they are bringing it up as a joke really. Pederson isn’t a bad move tho. If they had Harris and Kelenic as they will I don’t really even think a Duvall/Rosario tandem in left is even bad. It’ll probably be league averagish. Duvall is showing some signs of life since he had a walk off hit the other day. A three hit game and a game with a homer over 3 days I think. They are both streaky so it’s easy to point how they stink over a period of time but generally their ups and downs balance out more than they have so far.
Rishi, I’m rooting for Joc. I think it’d be an outstanding move for the Braves. I’m rooting even harder now just to rub some salt in what seems like a sore spot for LarryJ. Lol
I used to dislike Joc on the Dodgers. He’s one of those guys you like when he’s on your team tho. And the Dodgers are just one of those teams many dislike to begin with. Plus his name is Joc which could give the impression of a d0uche. Plus he was a thorn in ATLs side in playoffs almost every year seemed like. I think the trade would be good because he thrived here both emotionally and winning a WS. So it has a small added benefit to it that makes it slightly more likely to work out. Same with Rosario. If he’s gonna find it it’s more likely when fans are yelling “Eddie!..Eddie!” than facing highly skeptical fans seeing your batting line this year.
I’m not quite sure how to phrase it, but I think something else Joc brings is an ability to keep a team loose. I think it’s an underrated part of what helped Atlanta win their last WS. The Braves have a ton of talent, but they don’t appear to have a guy like that on the roster.
Also, to your point about Joc, I think it helps to have some of those guys that get under opposing fanbases’ skin. I look at Philadelphia, with Harper and Turner, who I think have that.
If you’re going to rant, try to know what you’re talking about. Joc has hit 13hrs, driven in 38, and this season his SLG and OPS is among the highest of his career. Stats don’t lie. Who’s clueless now?
Dylan Lee’s like wtf guys. Dam my remaining option
Welcome back, Baudidou!
Look Mr Lee. A 2.0 era and a 3bb to 37ko just isn’t cutting the mustard.
11:37 b to ko
Adam Duvall … Eddie Rosario …
Next stop … Otis Nixon
I still remember watching him swipe six bags against the expos, and not to mention “the catch” but they need to just bring back Julio Franco to play left field until MHII comes back
Is AA the GM or the caliber of players on the team?
What about Charlie Culberson?