3 Atlanta Braves who won’t be back despite surviving 2023 MLB Winter Meetings
The Atlanta Braves had an active MLB Winter Meetings, and while some players survived the initial roster purge, they will not be on the Opening Day roster.
While the MLB Winter Meetings is now finally behind us, the offseason has just begun. The Braves pulled off the first stunning trade of the week, acquiring Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales and more from the Seattle Mariners. Seattle was willing to part ways with Kelenic in part to get Gonzales off the books.
In turn, the Braves have since traded Gonzales and cash considerations to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Gonzales was never a long-term ploy for Atlanta, as he finished his last full season with an ERA well over five. Atlanta has work to do in their starting rotation, which insider Robert Murray hinted at on Thursday.
“The Braves have yet to land a top-tier starting pitcher in the free-agent market. Sources tell me that they are still active in their search for pitching. The Braves rotation of Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton and Bryce Elder is among the best in the National League. They could use at least one more starter, however, to fill things out,” Murray suggested.
How the Braves will go about adding to their rotation is not clear, but they have been connected to the likes of Dylan Cease and Tyler Glasnow via trade, as well as any number of free-agent starting pitchers.
Some of the players on this list could be traded, while others simply don’t make the cut because the Braves have one of the more talented rosters in the big leagues.
Braves who won’t be back: Evan White
The Braves acquired Evan White in the Jarred Kelenic trade, and have since outrighted him to the minor leagues. White primarily plays first base, a position where Atlanta has plenty of depth with Matt Olson and Austin Riley, who can play either corner. Even Travis d’Arnaud, a catcher and DH, can slot in at first base if needed.
This is why White was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett, where he will likely remain until further notice. It’s unclear if White will receive an MLB spring training invite. If he does not, he could very well ask for his release so he can sign with another team.
White is a former first-round pick of the Seattle Mariners back in 2017. He clearly has some potential, but has yet to live up to those expectations. If he absolutely rakes in Gwinnett this season, then perhaps he could receive a call-up for depth reasons. If not, he is nothing more than a minor-league bat in this organization.
Braves who won’t be back: Forrest Wall
Forrest Wall is listed on the MLB roster on the Braves official website, but it’s unlikely he sees much time in Atlanta, especially as early as Opening Day. Before Atlanta acquired Kelenic, Wall was thought of as a potential depth play in left field if the Braves needed him. With the acquisition of Kelenic, he is no longer needed.
Wall is a solid minor-league bat who brings an obvious attribute to the table — his speed. On an expanded roster, perhaps there is room for him as a pinch runner on a less-talented team. In the ATL, he doesn’t bring nearly as much value since he hasn’t proven to be a capable hitter. Just last season Wall was brought up as a depth outfielder last season. Ideally, Alex Anthopoulos will add even more players capable of contributing as a corner outfielder as the offseason goes along.
Atlanta has already signed Leury Garcia at the MLB Winter Meetings. Garcia should not start for the Braves, but he could very well slot in above Wall in the organizational depth chart.
Braves who won’t be back: Vaughn Grissom
I am bullish that Vaughn Grissom will one day be a regular MLB player somewhere. With the Braves, he’s a bit of a liability defensively, and has proven incapable of playing shortstop at the big-league level. This offseason, Anthopoulos spoke of the possibility of moving Grissom to a corner outfield spot if necessary. Yet, that need is now gone after trading for Kelenic, assuming the Braves believe in him as much as AA said initially.
Grissom has reported to the Puerto Rican league, where he will get some work in this winter. However, as mentioned above with Wall, the signing of Leury Garcia gives the Braves more depth at the outfield position. Unlike Wall, Grissom is talented enough to be included in a trade package for some starting pitching. As FanSided’s John Buhler noted, Grissom’s bat can only take him so far in Atlanta:
“The biggest reason why Grissom has had staying power in Atlanta to some degree over the last two years has been the allure of his bat. At times, it can be quite promising. In other instances, it drops to league average. With a below-league-average glove at pretty any position he plays at, you can understand why Grissom could be squeezed out, especially if Kelenic runs away with the left field job…Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos is up to something, but he wants to improve left field first.”
Perhaps a platoon opportunity will open up for Grissom as a corner outfielder in Atlanta. If not, though, I’d expect him to be moved before Opening Day. He’s one of the few young assets the Braves should be willing to part with.
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