Braves Re-Sign Eddie Rosario Amid Roster Changes as Trade Deadline Approaches
The Atlanta Braves have initiated the first step in their “Recreate 2021 Plan” by re-signing outfielder Eddie Rosario to their major league roster. Alongside this move, the team called up right-handed pitcher Bryce Elder and sent outfielder Luke Williams and left-handed pitcher Dylan Lee to Triple-A. Outfielder J.P. Martinez was designated for assignment.
Rosario, who signed a minor league deal with the Braves last week, is now returning for his second stint with the team. The 32-year-old was originally acquired at the 2021 trade deadline after star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Rosario, along with cash, was traded from Cleveland for Pablo Sandoval, and he became one of four key outfield additions that year, including Adam Duvall, Joc Pederson, and Jorge Soler. These moves were instrumental in the Braves’ championship win, with Rosario and Pederson playing crucial roles in October 2021.
Rosario and Duvall are now reunited in Atlanta as the Braves look to rebuild their roster following another Acuña ACL tear. After being designated for assignment by the Washington Nationals on July 1, Rosario signed a minor league contract with the Braves and has now been promoted to the major league team.
Rosario is currently having his worst professional season, hitting .183/.226/.329 with seven home runs, 26 RBIs, and a .555 OPS. The Braves hope that a change of scenery will help him regain his form. In three games at Triple-A for the Braves, Rosario went 3-for-11 (.273) with a home run and a 1.061 OPS.
Rosario began his MLB career in 2015 with the Minnesota Twins, spent part of 2021 with Cleveland, and signed a one-year deal with the Nationals this past offseason. Over his 10-year career, he has a .264/.301/.453 slash line with 166 home runs and 574 RBIs, along with a .754 OPS and a 102 OPS+.
The highlight of Rosario’s career was during the 2021 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he hit .560/.607/1.040 with three home runs and a 1.647 OPS in six games, earning the 2021 NLCS Most Valuable Player award.
Rosario aims to recapture some of that success for a Braves team that has struggled in the outfield since Acuña’s injury on May 26. Since then, Braves outfielders have collectively hit just .222 with a 77 wRC+ and a 0.0 fWAR, ranking 28th in MLB, ahead of only the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels.
Leave a Reply