The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sanchez reassigned to minor league camp
Veteran likely to be fifth starter but isn’t needed until April 10.
The Braves made a series of moves Wednesday as they got closer to finalizing their opening-day roster later in the day, optioning third baseman Rio Ruiz to Triple-A Gwinnett and reassigning outfielders Ezequiel Carrera and Danny Santana, infielder Sean Kazmar and pitcher Anibal Sanchez to minor league camp.
After the signings of infielder/outfielder Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Peter Bourjos to one-year major league contracts in the last days of spring training, Ruiz became expendable and had an option remaining, meaning he could be sent to Triple-A without being exposed to waivers. The Braves are stressing defense, and Flaherty is an above-average defender at several positions, including third base.
Santana had an outstanding spring, but he and Carrera are on minor league deals, which meant they could be sent to Triple-A and then called up if and when they are needed later in the season. For either to begin the season on the major league roster, the Braves would’ve had to make a 40-man roster move to accommodate them, and neither could have been sent to Triple-A during the season without clearing waivers, since each is out of options. Doing it this way provides more depth and flexibility in case of injuries.
Sanchez is scheduled to move into the rotation when the Braves need a fifth starter for the first time April 10, but since he signed a minor league contract he can begin the season on the Triple-A roster, freeing a spot on the Braves’ roster for an extra position player, perhaps outfielder Lane Adams (out of options) unless the Braves make another late trade or signing.
Lindgren has uncertain future: The Braves had high hopes for Jacob Lindgren after poaching the strikeout-producing left-hander from the Yankees in December 2016, but his future appears uncertain now after requiring a second elbow surgery in a 19-month span.
The 25-year-old Mississippi native developed elbow soreness early in spring training and had Tommy John surgery Tuesday, performed by Dr. James Andrews at his clinic outside Pensacola, Fla.
Lindgren became known as the The Strikeout Factory while averaging 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings in the minor leagues with the Yankees. He had Tommy John surgery in August 2016 and the Braves lured him away from the Yankees with a major league contract offer just before the 2016 winter meetings, right after the Yankees made him a non-tendered free agent with the intention of re-signing Lindgren to a minor league deal.
The Braves agreed to pay him about $1 million in 2017. Lindgren, a Biloxi native and former Mississippi State University standout, wrote on his Twitter page immediately after changing organizations: “I have signed with the Braves. Most kids in the ’Sip grew up doing the chop. I am blessed to live a dream.”
But that dream took another unwanted detour this spring, and he had his second Tommy John surgery without pitching in a game since the first surgery. Now he’s expected to miss a second consecutive entire season recovering. The Braves could control him contractually for up to four more seasons after 2018 before he’s eligible for free agency.
Before his elbow woes, Lindgren featured a mid90s fastball and a wipeout slider that was his best pitch. He had a 1.84 ERA and 85 strikeouts, 32 walks and no home runs allowed in 54 innings over 40 minor league appearances.
Soroka soaks in SunTrust debut: Mike Soroka didn’t label his spring an audition for the Braves’ higher-ups. That would be considered an injustice to what the forward-thinking pitching prospect just experienced.
Impressing spectators wasn’t on the 20-year-old’s mind. It was instead a sixweek trial to prove to himself he belongs.
Soroka closed his spring training, and possibly his final spring as a minorleaguer, starting for the Future Stars team against the Braves in an exhibition at SunTrust Park on Tuesday. The Braves defeated the Future Stars 7-4. The Canadian righty pitched only one inning, navigating through back-to-back hits to limit the damage to a run against Braves regulars.
“It was awesome just to get out there and get the opportunity to pitch at SunTrust for the first time,” Soroka said. “I’ve been able to go in a couple big stadiums, Marlins Park, Blue Jays stadium as well, but nothing like this. It’s a new experience because it’s a place you’re hoping to call home soon and for a while after that.”
Soroka wrapped up a spring in which he made four appearances and allowed two runs in six innings. He struck out seven and walked none. Reflecting on the past few weeks in Florida, Soroka wasn’t chatty about what was accomplished or if he accelerated the due date of his MLB debut. He decided to live in the moment and take in that milestone as he nears a larger one.
“Biggest thing for this spring was being able to come here and take a deep breath and really understand where you are and not just kind of motor through it,” Soroka said. “Being able to look around and realize what situation you’re in, it’s something you’re going to remember. I’m going to be able to look back on this spring and remember it pretty vividly, whereas I feel like a lot of guys go into it, rip through it and won’t know what happened.”