Today is an off day, but that off day brought 2 Braves trades, some signings, many options, a transfer, a claim, and several DFA’d players. Here’s yesterday’s action:

Breakdown: It looks like the Braves are going to utilize Chorinos in a starting role, at least until Max Fried can once again stabilize the rotation (my guess is Fried pitches next Tuesday). With Winans and Soroka both being optioned, they’re not going to be available for the next 15 days and the Braves are likely using Chorinos in a trial basis in hopes that he can pitch well enough to alleviate the need to trade for a starter. I’m skeptical….

Both Verdung and Goodman look like post-draft college signings. Elledge will likely go unclaimed and head back to Gwinnett in hopes that he’ll grab another big league paycheck before season’s end. The most discouraging story is that Jesse Chavez will be shelved for the rest of the season. His 1.55 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, and 11.2 K/9 was his best stat-line in his career and easily made him the Braves best reliever. Pretty extraordinary for a man near 40.

Today’s Transactions

While yesterday’s news was a lot of names, none of the moves made were trades. Today, we finally see some deals along with 2 DFA’s, a signing, and a rumor. Let’s get to it.

Braves Trades: Pierce Johnson

Ok…this is now becoming a thing. AA likes shopping a mile up as this will be the 5th player this year the Braves have picked up from the Rockies organization. Johnson is a 2 pitch flamethrower that is underachieving in dead end baseball and there’s nothing like a pennant race to light a fire in a backside. Pierce will be a free agent at the end of the year. Victor Vodnik was having a serious rebound season after being moved to the bullpen full-time and should get a decent shot to stick at some point in Colorado. Tanner Gordon, in all likelihood, is a fringe major league pitcher that could see the show at some point. Overall, this seems like a fair trade for both parties.

Braves Trades: Taylor Hearn

  • Taylor Hearn was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2012 draft. He didn’t sign.
  • He was drafted again in the 36th round of the 2013 draft. He didn’t sign.
  • He was drafted again in the 24th round of the 2014 draft.He didn’t sign.
  • Finally, in 2015, he was drafted in the 5th round by the Nationals and he signed.

Hearn was tried for years as a SP but just didn’t have the arsenal to be successful. Now, Hearn has seemingly made his way to the bullpen where he’ll likely stay. He does have an option and my guess is that AA will use it and send Hearn to Gwinnett. Since becoming a full-time RP, Hearn is strictly fastball and slider and if he can get right, he could be a very valuable piece with many years of team control.

To make room on the 40-man, AA had to DFA both Lucas Luetge and Dereck Rodriguez for assignment. It’s a guess, but an educated one, and I’m guessing both guys make it through waivers and head back to AAA where they’ll be stashed away until the next time AA needs a fill-in that can be DFA’d.

Braves Sign Pitcher Kodi Whitley

Kodi Whitley has seen time with the Cardinals for part of 3 seasons, but not in 2023. He’ll go to Gwinnett where the Baves might utilize him the way they’ve utilized many fringe veterans this year.

Braves Interested in Adam Duvall

It’s that time of year again and it could mean a reuniting with Adam Duvall. What I can’t really grasp here is the “why” to the interest. Unless AA is planning on ridding himself of Marcell Ozuna, Eddie Rosario, or Kevin Pillar, Duvall doesn’t seem to have an obvious fit in the Braves outfield, but we are talking about AA and his philosophy has always been to get the player and find the fit later. With a week until the deadline, AA’s already given us 2 trades and I’m sure there’s more action to come.

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to chat about this piece and others, come pull up a stool and tell us your drunken thoughts.