The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More than meets eye with McCarthy
The Braves needed to dump outfielder Matt Kemp and add a veteran to an unseasoned rotation. Their latest trade accomplished both.
In what might still be understated as a surprise, Kemp was traded back to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he spent his glory days, for several highly compensated veterans. While there was mutual financial benefit for both teams, the Braves added three players who could warrant roles next season.
Among them, starter Brandon McCarthy. The 34-yearold right-hander battled through injuries in his threeyear Dodgers career, though his most recent campaign was his most successful.
McCarthy becomes the most experienced arm in the rotation. His job is simple: Eat innings and pave the way for the plethora of pitching prospects ascending through the minors.
Here are a few things to know about the pitcher who might be the Braves’ biggest offseason addition:
1. The bounce back: McCarthy pitched 63 innings across his first two seasons in Los Angeles after earning a four-year, $48 million deal following a stellar season with the Yankees. He required Tommy John surgery in 2015, then battled through a recovery period and hip stiffness in 2016.
He pitched 92 2/3 innings last season and his velocity hit 94 mph when the Dodgers included him on their World Series roster. He finished with a 3.98 ERA and struck out seven per nine innings.
His 3.28 FIP indicated he outperformed his ERA, while his 2.4 WAR would have made him the Braves’ most valuable starter.
However, he made just three appearances between July 20 and the World Series. He was sidelined by a dislocated left (non-throwing shoulder), knee tendinitis and a recurring blister. The latter was a new occurrence despite McCarthy’s wide-ranging list of past injuries.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who also worked for the Dodgers last season, expects McCarthy to be ready to go.
2. A Twitter about nothing: You’d be remiss to not mention McCarthy’s Twitter personality in a list introducing him.
McCarthy, @BMcCarthy32, and his wife Amanda, @Mrs_ McCarthy32, are world-class entertainers on social media.
Days after the trade, his first tweet read, “That all the parking spots closest to the gym fill up first is how I know we should be very scared of AI (artificial intelligence).”
He followed that literary masterpiece with “Also, I am a Brave now” and said he’s just as excited to see uber-hyped outfield prospect Ronald Acuna play than anyone else.
3. Well-traveled: For the Glendale, Calif., native changing teams isn’t anything new. McCarthy debuted in 2005 with the White Sox, who selected him in the 17th round of the 2002 draft. He was part of a five-player trade that moved him to Texas in Dec. 2006.
His Rangers tenure was hampered by injuries, and the team outrighted him after the 2010 season. He signed with the A’s on a one-year, $1 million deal.
McCarthy rebounded in Oakland, making 20 starts. He added to his repertoire and became the team’s opening day starter in 2012.
But his success was stunted when he took a line-drive to the head from former Braves and then-Angels infielder Erick Aybar. McCarthy immediately had surgery after it was revealed he suffered an epidural hemorrhage, skull fracture and brain contusion.
McCarthy recovered and joined the Diamondbacks as a free agent. He struggled with injuries, later being flipped to the Yankees before the 2014 trade deadline.
He excelled in New York posting a 2.89 ERA over 14 starts, which led to his next contract with the Dodgers.