What Braves roster moves mean for trade deadline plans, rotation

Let’s assess the roster moves the Atlanta Braves have made of late before the trade deadline.

With the MLB trade deadline rapidly approaching, Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos appears to be up to something.

It may be up-to-something season across baseball, but everybody and their brother has their eyes on what this juggernaut Atlanta team could potentially do. After taking two of three from the Milwaukee Brewers, the Braves are off on Tuesday ahead of a two-gamer vs. the interleague rival Boston Red Sox. The last few days have given Anthopoulos plenty of time to reshuffle the deck.

First, the Braves signed former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Yonny Chirinos off waivers. They designated Seth Elledge for assignment in order to acquire him. Atlanta also optioned Michael Soroka to Triple-A Gwinnett after Saturday’s series finale win over Milwaukee. Something is up…

Flying way under the radar, the Braves have brought back relief pitcher Danny Young into the fold on a minor-league contract. It is never a bad thing to have another left-handed arm to work with.

And as far as how key pitchers are doing in their recovery from injury, Max Fried is making what appears to be his final start for Triple-A Gwinnett vs. Jacksonville on Wednesday. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman also mentioned that AJ Minter will commence his first rehab appearance on Tuesday.

Let’s dissect what any and all of these roster moves could mean for the Braves going forward.

Atlanta Braves make a ton of roster moves ahead of the MLB trade deadline

Admittedly, it is hard to process what the Braves’ plan is for Soroka going forward. He has pitched better during his second stint in the Atlanta rotation this season, but he has yet to return to his All-Star form from 2019. Sending him down may allow him to keep a regular place in the rotation, while gaining confidence at the Triple-A level for the time being until Atlanta may need him again.

The Chirinos addition could be a way to mix and match with an opener or a long-arm out of the bullpen. Either way, he is coming over from one of the best teams in the American League, a club Atlanta could conceivably face in the World Series if both franchises get that far. Young is more of grab-and-stash sort of play in terms of bullpen depth. Atlanta already knows what it has in him.

And as far as Fried and Minter’s eventual returns are concerned, Fried should be back in the rotation in the first week of August. It may take another week or so for Minter to get back up to speed, but it sounds like he will be returning to the bullpen by the midway point of August at the absolute latest. Again, Atlanta needs both of them to be healthy to possibly win the World Series.

For now, I think Anthopoulos is making a few minor moves before doing the big one we want soon.