The Atlanta Braves have been busy making roster moves recently. With Alex Verdugo getting called up and Ian Anderson being claimed off waivers while the team was on the road, these changes required some quick adjustments to ensure the Braves had enough players available to play their games.
Ian Anderson Sent to Triple-A, Bryan De La Cruz Claimed by Yankees
While none of these moves are particularly groundbreaking, they do shed light on the Braves’ current plans. Verdugo has proven to be a great acquisition, and with Eli White’s strong performance, there was simply no room for Bryan De La Cruz, especially after Atlanta brought back Eddie Rosario. De La Cruz didn’t help his case with a dismal 28 wRC+ this season, and even if he turned things around in the minors, playing time in the majors seemed unlikely. Now, he’s headed to the Yankees.
As for Anderson, it’s uncertain what his future with the Braves holds. While they might try to convert him into a bullpen piece, his raw stuff may not be suitable for that role. Returning as a starter seems unlikely given his struggles against batters in the second or third time through the order. For now, he’ll remain at Gwinnett as a project.
With these moves out of the way, the Braves are now focused on their upcoming series against the LA Dodgers. The first game will feature Grant Holmes facing off against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a tough matchup, but the Braves seem to have the right pieces in place for the challenge.
