Braves sign Chase Utley (lite) to a minor league deal

[clvclv]

He actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Assuming Hart & Company are going to do everything in their power to protect the youngsters' service time, this buys ALL OF 2015 for Peraza, Peterson, and Toscano to continue to refine things in Gwinnett. It gets you one year closer to the end of Johnson's deal (meaning you're not burning Peterson's service time as a utility/platoon guy), gets you to the end of Callaspo's deal (same situation for Peraza), and gives Toscano the entire year to adjust to life in the States.

I (of all people) certainly understand the reasoning of those that pan the signing, but if this really going to be 70-75 win team why burn time off the clocks of those guys we hope will be parts of the next contender???

In the "yaneverknow" category, if Peterson looks like he could turn into an everyday 2B and Ruiz develops as hoped, you can shift Peraza to CF.

[Julio3000]

Would YOU sign Kelly Johnson to a minor league deal?

Beats at least some of the alternatives. Welcome back, ghost of KJ!

[dak]

He actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Assuming Hart & Company are going to do everything in their power to protect the youngsters' service time, this buys ALL OF 2015 for Peraza, Peterson, and Toscano to continue to refine things in Gwinnett. It gets you one year closer to the end of Johnson's deal (meaning you're not burning Peterson's service time as a utility/platoon guy), gets you to the end of Callaspo's deal (same situation for Peraza), and gives Toscano the entire year to adjust to life in the States.

Yeah, I'm curious to see how Hart handles these guys from a service time perspective and the KJ move definitely offers more flexibility. To me, it's a no brainer to keep Peraza down until June or so to ensure he is not a super-two.

Jace and Folty are more interesting cases. They have 58 and 59 days of service time, respectively. We'd need to keep them down until early June to delay their free agency clock a year. If we wanted to prevent them from eventually qualifying as super-twos, we'd have to keep them down until early August. With Jace profiling as a utility guy, I'd guess they won't worry as much about him. Folty kind of makes you think twice though.

[Braves1976]

Yeah, I'm curious to see how Hart handles these guys from a service time perspective and the KJ move definitely offers more flexibility. To me, it's a no brainer to keep Peraza down until June or so to ensure he is not a super-two.

Jace and Folty are more interesting cases. They have 58 and 59 days of service time, respectively. We'd need to keep them down until early June to delay their free agency clock a year. If we wanted to prevent them from eventually qualifying as super-twos, we'd have to keep them down until early August. With Jace profiling as a utility guy, I'd guess they won't worry as much about him. Folty kind of makes you think twice though.

Yea, I agree it would be stupid to lose a year of Peraza in a rebuilding season. I don't mind signing KJ since he can play second, third and left field. The positions he plays helps us with depth and could down the road provide a replacement for a traded player (such as CJ if he bounces back, or even Callaspo if a contender wants him at some point). Plus if CJ struggles we could pair KJ with Callaspo at third and play CJ even less (such as only vs lefties or pitchers he's hit best).

[bravesnumberone]

So our roster should be pretty much set now, with the possible exception of landing Gomes.

Catchers (2)
Bethancourt
Prick

Infielders (7)
Freeman
Callaspo
KJ
Peterson
Gosselin
Simba
CJ

Outfielders (4)
Gomes
BJ
Markakis
Almonte
Or if we don't bring in Gomes, Terdo or Cunningham.

Pitchers (12)
Julio
Minor
Wood
Miller
5th starter - Hale/Banuelos/that dude from the Astros

Kimbrel
Grilli
Johnson
Simmons
Russell
Two of Outman/Avilan/Kohn/Viz/maybe Hale

[emk418]

He actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Assuming Hart & Company are going to do everything in their power to protect the youngsters' service time, this buys ALL OF 2015 for Peraza, Peterson, and Toscano to continue to refine things in Gwinnett. It gets you one year closer to the end of Johnson's deal (meaning you're not burning Peterson's service time as a utility/platoon guy), gets you to the end of Callaspo's deal (same situation for Peraza), and gives Toscano the entire year to adjust to life in the States.

I (of all people) certainly understand the reasoning of those that pan the signing, but if this really going to be 70-75 win team why burn time off the clocks of those guys we hope will be parts of the next contender???

In the "yaneverknow" category, if Peterson looks like he could turn into an everyday 2B and Ruiz develops as hoped, you can shift Peraza to CF.

I'm fine with the move but Jace is MLB ready. KJ should not take any playing time away from him. I think KJ was just signed to have a chance to win a super UTIL spot.

[Braves1976]

So our roster should be pretty much set now, with the possible exception of landing Gomes.

Catchers (2)
Bethancourt
Prick

Infielders (7)
Freeman
Callaspo
KJ
Peterson
Gosselin
Simba
CJ

Outfielders (4)
Gomes
BJ
Markakis
Almonte
Or if we don't bring in Gomes, Terdo or Cunningham.

Pitchers (12)
Julio
Minor
Wood
Miller
5th starter - Hale/Banuelos/that dude from the Astros

Kimbrel
Grilli
Johnson
Simmons
Russell
Two of Outman/Avilan/Kohn/Viz/maybe Hale

I am not sure we'd carry both Peterson and Gosselin if KJ makes the roster too. Callaspo, Peterson, Gosselin and KJ are similar players in that all four are mostly 2B/3B, though only Peterson and Gosselin are back-up options at short too. So one of Peterson or Gosselin could end up in Gwinnett if KJ makes the team. Further, Outman signed a Major league deal so he's likely to make the team. I'd also expect Wandy and hopefully Banuelos to be the main competition for Hale and the 5th starter spot. I don't see Forty or Wang being any real factor for various reasons.

That said, I am hoping Gomes ends up signing with that AL team interested in him. This way at least one of Joey T, Hunter, Cunningham and co. get a shot at making the team.

[bravesnumberone]

Forgot about Wandy and Wang. Oh, the marginal players.

[Carp]

At least there will be no shortage of penis jokes between Wood, the Johnsons Three, BJ, and Wang.

[bravesnumberone]

And Peterson. And A.J. Prickcynzki.

[zitothebrave]

Smart move, hoping for a Johnson & Johnson 3B platoon. Should be moderately productive.

[ChapelHillMatt]

I think we should sign Langerhans and Davies too, bring Francoeur back while we are at it.

[Perfect Cell]

I see no issues or complaints with this move. Hes not a starter at this point, hes a backup/utility guy, and he probably can play 1b and 3b now to go along with OF and 2B.

[Carp]

I still like Johnson, but he's not really starting material anymore. Good signing for the bench or as a platoon partner. He still has those reverse splits though, so it's guaranteed that Fredi will ignore this and we will get the least amount of production possible out of him.

To be fair, KJ has been equally terrible vs both LHP and RHP for the last couple of yrs. So I don't think the reverse splits are going to matter too much. Just keep ur expectations low, and you won't be disappointed.

[bravebonebook]

Smart move, hoping for a Johnson & Johnson 3B platoon. Should be moderately productive.

That 3B platoon should be our clean up hitter(s).

[bravebonebook]

So our roster should be pretty much set now, with the possible exception of landing Gomes.

Catchers (2)
Bethancourt
Prick

Infielders (7)
Freeman
Callaspo
KJ
Peterson
Gosselin
Simba
CJ

Outfielders (4)
Gomes
BJ
Markakis
Almonte
Or if we don't bring in Gomes, Terdo or Cunningham.

Pitchers (12)
Julio
Minor
Wood
Miller
5th starter - Hale/Banuelos/that dude from the Astros

Kimbrel
Grilli
Johnson
Simmons
Russell
Two of Outman/Avilan/Kohn/Viz/maybe Hale

That's a team capable of some damage this season!

[50PoundHead]

I was never that big a KJ fan, but I've been lobbying for him to be signed since the first day of free agency. Good three (or four) position guy who could give us some flexibility. Probably should be a solid pinch hitter as well.

[bravesnumberone]

I was never that big a KJ fan, but I've been lobbying for him to be signed since the first day of free agency. Good three (or four) position guy who could give us some flexibility. Probably should be a solid pinch hitter as well.

Now we know the real reason Wren was fired. This is Hart's ace move that brings it all together. I think I've misjudged him. I'm sorry.

[sgtpepper1972]

That's a team capable of some damage this season!

To whom?

[CyYoung31]

To be fair, KJ has been equally terrible vs both LHP and RHP for the last couple of yrs. So I don't think the reverse splits are going to matter too much. Just keep ur expectations low, and you won't be disappointed.

My expectations are already rock bottom.

There's still like a 30 point difference in his splits. We could use all the help we can get right now.