Former All-Star reliever Joe Jimenez has joined the Atlanta Braves from the Detroit Tigers, with the Braves sending two minor-league players to Detroit in exchange.

At 28 years old, Jimenez was 3-2 with two saves and a 3.49 ERA in 62 games for the Tigers last season. Jimenez is a welcome addition to the Braves, especially as they look to reinforce their roster following the departure of Kenley Jansen. Jansen made the decision to depart from the Braves after being offered a $32 million, two-year deal from the Boston Red Sox. Jansen led the Braves in the National League with 41 saves last season.

In exchange for allowing Jimenez to depart for Atlanta, Detroit has acquired the services of outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and left-hander Jake Higginbotham. Playing at three minor league levels, Malloy hit .289 with 17 home runs and 81 RBI over the course of last season. Higginbotham went 25 while obtaining a 4.73 ERA in 48 relief appearances for Double-A Mississippi.

The post Joe Jimenez Joins Atlanta Braves in Detroit Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves were dealt a blow over the weekend after starting right fielder Nick Markakis broke his wrist after being hit by a pitch.

The veteran outfielder was struck flush on his left wrist while batting against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Irvin. Markakis tried to stay in the game after being hit but quickly realized that he had suffered a serious injury and needed to be removed.

Markakis has been Atlanta’s 5-hole hitter throughout the season and has provided consistent production for the division-leading Braves. The 2018 All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner has hit .284 with 9 home runs for the Braves this season, posting an excellent .358 on-base percentage.

If there’s any silver lining for the Braves in this situation, team doctors determined that Markakis will not need surgery to fix the wrist fracture and that he could return in mid-September, before the playoffs start at the end of the month.

In the meantime, Atlanta has called up former All-Star outfielder Adam Duvall from triple-A Gwinnett in order to cover the hole left by Markakis’ departure.

Atlanta can now do nothing but cross its fingers that they’ll get their quality right fielder back in time for this year’s playoffs.

The post Braves RF Nick Markakis to Miss Time with Broken Wrist appeared first on SportzBonanza.

If there’s any competing team in baseball that needs starting pitching help, it’s the Atlanta Braves. According to MLB sources, they are looking to add free agent starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel in order to boost one of the weak points of their roster.

MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand broke the news on Thursday that Atlanta is looking to lock up the lefty starter.

Keuchel, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros, hit free agency last off-season and has yet to sign a deal despite being one of baseball’s most decorated starting pitchers over the past several years.

The Astros offered Keuchel a qualifying offer, which meant that any team that signed the Arkansas alum before the MLB Draft would be forced to give up their first round pick for him.

Since no teams wanted to do so, he’s had to wait until now to find suitors.

Keuchel, who is now 31 years old, has an impressive pitching resume. The lefty made two All-Star teams with the Astros and helped lead the franchise to their first ever World Series title in 2017.

All in all, the ground ball-inducing starter recorded a 76-63 record and a 3.77 ERA in his years with the AL West club.

Atlanta, currently with a 33-30 record and two games behind the Phillies in the NL East, needs pitching help if they are to be serious contenders this year.

For this reason, they appear to be making a push for the lefty starter in what could end up being a perfect marriage.

The post Braves Reportedly Making a Push for Free Agent SP Dallas Keuchel appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After signing Ronald Acuña Jr. to a massive extension earlier this month, Atlanta Braves have now also secured that their talented second baseman Ozzie Albies also remains with the franchise for the years to come.

Braves announced on Thursday that they have signed Albies on a seven-year, $35 million contract which runs through 2025. The deal also has team options for two more years.

Ozzie Albies’ new deal is constructed in such a way that he will receive $1 million in the two upcoming seasons before receiving $3 million in 2021 and $5 million in 2022. In three subsequent years, he will earn $7 million per year. Braves can exercise a team option worth $7 million in 2026 which has a $4 million buyout and a $7 million option in 2027 without a buyout.

After making his MLB debut in 2017, Albies played his first full season in the majors in 2018. He finished the year batting .261 with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs while earning an All-Star appearance thanks to the players’ vote.

In this season Albies played 11 games and has a batting average of .364 with one home run and 2 RBIs.

The post Braves Agree to a 7-year, $35 Million Deal with Ozzie Albies appeared first on SportzBonanza.

2019’s National League Rookie of the Year has a new contract and a guaranteed future with the Atlanta Braves.

Ronald Acuña Jr., who ran away with the award as the league’s best rookie at 20 years old last season, has come to terms with an agreement for an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with his team.

Acuña, who would’ve been a free agent after the 2024 season, will now stick around in Atlanta until at least 2026. The deal also includes two club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The Venezuelan outfielder was one of baseball’s top prospects before making his debut in April of 2018.

In his standout rookie season, Acuña played in 111 games and posted a .293/.366/.552 slash line. He belted 29 home runs and drove in 74 runs for the NL East-winning Braves.

Acuña hit his first home run of the 2019 season in Atlanta’s Monday night 8-0 win over the Cubs.

The deal is the most valuable contract extension in the history of MLB for a player aged 21 or under.

The post Braves, Ronald Acuña Jr. Agree to 8-Year Contract Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran right fielder Jose Bautista has signed a minor league deal with Atlanta Braves, the team has announced on Wednesday. Bautista will play third base for the Braves if he earns a spot on the 40-man roster. In that case, the 37-year-old will receive one-year, $1 million deal.

“The hope is he shows he’s capable of being a good player who can help us win games,” – said Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos. “If that happens, he’ll come up and play third base for us. Hopefully, things work out.“

The two previously worked together from 2009 to 2015, when Anthopoulos served as GM for Toronto Blue Jays and Bautista was the team’s biggest star.

“There are certain things you know you’re going to get with Jose,” – Anthopoulos added. “He’s going to be in tremendous shape. He’s going to work hard and study hard. He comes to win, and he plays to win.“

Jose Bautista played his best baseball with the Blue Jays, earning six consecutive All-Star appearances (2010–2015), and being the league’s home run leader on two occasions (2010, 2011). He also has two Hank Aaron Awards and three Silver Slugger honors. During the last two seasons, however, Bautista’s production significantly dropped, finishing 2017 with .203 batting average, 23 home runs, and 65 RBIs.

Still, the Braves hope Bautista can turn around his luck and give a contribution to the team.

“I learned long ago, you don’t bet against this guy,” – said Anthopoulos. “He’s very proud and very determined. He’s somebody I’ve always said would play into his 40s. I can’t speak to what happened last year with him. He’ll be the first person to tell you he didn’t play well. He’s very accountable and expects more of himself. By taking this deal, he’s made the decision to bet on himself.“

The post Slugger Jose Bautista Signs a Minor League Deal with Atlanta Braves appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Former All-Star reliever Joe Jimenez has joined the Atlanta Braves from the Detroit Tigers, with the Braves sending two minor-league players to Detroit in exchange.

At 28 years old, Jimenez was 3-2 with two saves and a 3.49 ERA in 62 games for the Tigers last season. Jimenez is a welcome addition to the Braves, especially as they look to reinforce their roster following the departure of Kenley Jansen. Jansen made the decision to depart from the Braves after being offered a $32 million, two-year deal from the Boston Red Sox. Jansen led the Braves in the National League with 41 saves last season.

In exchange for allowing Jimenez to depart for Atlanta, Detroit has acquired the services of outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and left-hander Jake Higginbotham. Playing at three minor league levels, Malloy hit .289 with 17 home runs and 81 RBI over the course of last season. Higginbotham went 25 while obtaining a 4.73 ERA in 48 relief appearances for Double-A Mississippi.

The post Joe Jimenez Joins Atlanta Braves in Detroit Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves were dealt a blow over the weekend after starting right fielder Nick Markakis broke his wrist after being hit by a pitch.

The veteran outfielder was struck flush on his left wrist while batting against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Irvin. Markakis tried to stay in the game after being hit but quickly realized that he had suffered a serious injury and needed to be removed.

Markakis has been Atlanta’s 5-hole hitter throughout the season and has provided consistent production for the division-leading Braves. The 2018 All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner has hit .284 with 9 home runs for the Braves this season, posting an excellent .358 on-base percentage.

If there’s any silver lining for the Braves in this situation, team doctors determined that Markakis will not need surgery to fix the wrist fracture and that he could return in mid-September, before the playoffs start at the end of the month.

In the meantime, Atlanta has called up former All-Star outfielder Adam Duvall from triple-A Gwinnett in order to cover the hole left by Markakis’ departure.

Atlanta can now do nothing but cross its fingers that they’ll get their quality right fielder back in time for this year’s playoffs.

The post Braves RF Nick Markakis to Miss Time with Broken Wrist appeared first on SportzBonanza.

If there’s any competing team in baseball that needs starting pitching help, it’s the Atlanta Braves. According to MLB sources, they are looking to add free agent starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel in order to boost one of the weak points of their roster.

MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand broke the news on Thursday that Atlanta is looking to lock up the lefty starter.

Keuchel, who spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros, hit free agency last off-season and has yet to sign a deal despite being one of baseball’s most decorated starting pitchers over the past several years.

The Astros offered Keuchel a qualifying offer, which meant that any team that signed the Arkansas alum before the MLB Draft would be forced to give up their first round pick for him.

Since no teams wanted to do so, he’s had to wait until now to find suitors.

Keuchel, who is now 31 years old, has an impressive pitching resume. The lefty made two All-Star teams with the Astros and helped lead the franchise to their first ever World Series title in 2017.

All in all, the ground ball-inducing starter recorded a 76-63 record and a 3.77 ERA in his years with the AL West club.

Atlanta, currently with a 33-30 record and two games behind the Phillies in the NL East, needs pitching help if they are to be serious contenders this year.

For this reason, they appear to be making a push for the lefty starter in what could end up being a perfect marriage.

The post Braves Reportedly Making a Push for Free Agent SP Dallas Keuchel appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After signing Ronald Acuña Jr. to a massive extension earlier this month, Atlanta Braves have now also secured that their talented second baseman Ozzie Albies also remains with the franchise for the years to come.

Braves announced on Thursday that they have signed Albies on a seven-year, $35 million contract which runs through 2025. The deal also has team options for two more years.

Ozzie Albies’ new deal is constructed in such a way that he will receive $1 million in the two upcoming seasons before receiving $3 million in 2021 and $5 million in 2022. In three subsequent years, he will earn $7 million per year. Braves can exercise a team option worth $7 million in 2026 which has a $4 million buyout and a $7 million option in 2027 without a buyout.

After making his MLB debut in 2017, Albies played his first full season in the majors in 2018. He finished the year batting .261 with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs while earning an All-Star appearance thanks to the players’ vote.

In this season Albies played 11 games and has a batting average of .364 with one home run and 2 RBIs.

The post Braves Agree to a 7-year, $35 Million Deal with Ozzie Albies appeared first on SportzBonanza.

2019’s National League Rookie of the Year has a new contract and a guaranteed future with the Atlanta Braves.

Ronald Acuña Jr., who ran away with the award as the league’s best rookie at 20 years old last season, has come to terms with an agreement for an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with his team.

Acuña, who would’ve been a free agent after the 2024 season, will now stick around in Atlanta until at least 2026. The deal also includes two club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The Venezuelan outfielder was one of baseball’s top prospects before making his debut in April of 2018.

In his standout rookie season, Acuña played in 111 games and posted a .293/.366/.552 slash line. He belted 29 home runs and drove in 74 runs for the NL East-winning Braves.

Acuña hit his first home run of the 2019 season in Atlanta’s Monday night 8-0 win over the Cubs.

The deal is the most valuable contract extension in the history of MLB for a player aged 21 or under.

The post Braves, Ronald Acuña Jr. Agree to 8-Year Contract Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran right fielder Jose Bautista has signed a minor league deal with Atlanta Braves, the team has announced on Wednesday. Bautista will play third base for the Braves if he earns a spot on the 40-man roster. In that case, the 37-year-old will receive one-year, $1 million deal.

“The hope is he shows he’s capable of being a good player who can help us win games,” – said Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos. “If that happens, he’ll come up and play third base for us. Hopefully, things work out.“

The two previously worked together from 2009 to 2015, when Anthopoulos served as GM for Toronto Blue Jays and Bautista was the team’s biggest star.

“There are certain things you know you’re going to get with Jose,” – Anthopoulos added. “He’s going to be in tremendous shape. He’s going to work hard and study hard. He comes to win, and he plays to win.“

Jose Bautista played his best baseball with the Blue Jays, earning six consecutive All-Star appearances (2010–2015), and being the league’s home run leader on two occasions (2010, 2011). He also has two Hank Aaron Awards and three Silver Slugger honors. During the last two seasons, however, Bautista’s production significantly dropped, finishing 2017 with .203 batting average, 23 home runs, and 65 RBIs.

Still, the Braves hope Bautista can turn around his luck and give a contribution to the team.

“I learned long ago, you don’t bet against this guy,” – said Anthopoulos. “He’s very proud and very determined. He’s somebody I’ve always said would play into his 40s. I can’t speak to what happened last year with him. He’ll be the first person to tell you he didn’t play well. He’s very accountable and expects more of himself. By taking this deal, he’s made the decision to bet on himself.“

The post Slugger Jose Bautista Signs a Minor League Deal with Atlanta Braves appeared first on SportzBonanza.