Braves Rumors: Tommy Doyle signs minor league contract with Atlanta
The Atlanta Braves have signed Tommy Doyle to a minor league contract, per the MLB's transaction tacker (h/t MLB Trade Rumors). The expectation is that Doyle will receive an invite to spring training, where he can compete for a spot in the Braves' bullpen hierarchy.
Atlanta has quite a few relievers on staff already. From notable returners such as A.J. Minter and Joe Jimenez, to newcomers Aaron Bummer and Jackson Kowar, there aren't too many spots up for grabs. As a result, Doyle will probably begin the season with Triple-A Gwinnett and operate as an emergency option should the Braves run into injury troubles.
Doyle spent was a third-round pick to the Colorado Rockies in 2017. He has appeared in 18 total MLB contests — three in 2020 and 15 last season. In 2023, the righty posted a 6.85 ERA and 1.521 WHIP in 23.2 innings pitched. He registered 18 strikeouts and 13 walks. Doyle relies heavily on a 90 MPH cutter, which makes up 48 percent of his pitches, per Baseball Savant. He also boasts a 94 MPH fastball (44 percent) and an 87 MPH slider (eight percent).
At 27 years old, Doyle still has ample time to carve out a career in the majors. For now, however, expect him in a Stripers uniform — not a Braves uniform — when the 2024 season starts.
Braves Rumors: Mariners' Logan Gilbert identified as improbable trade target
The Braves are widely speculated to be in the market for pitching. While several high-profile free agent targets remain — Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodriguez — a lot of the Atlanta buzz has shifted to trade targets, such as Tampa Bay Rays hurler Tyler Glasnow or Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber.
But, Alex Lord of Sports Talk ATL posits another potential target — 26-year-old Seattle Mariners RHP Logan Gilbert, who made 32 starts for the M's last season. He posted a 13-7 record with a 3.73 ERA and 1.075 WHIP. Gilbert has now posted a sub-4.00 ERA in consecutive seasons and he is under team control through 2027.
He would be a great addition to the Braves, providing another reliable starter on the same career timeline as Spencer Strider. That said, there are a couple of factors that could prevent the Braves from getting a deal across the finish line.
First of all, teams don't trade 26-year-old pitchers with four years of team control remaining lightly. The Mariners have a ton of pitchers — and Blake Snell is reportedly eager to return home — but that doesn't mean Seattle will sacrifice Gilbert unless there is serious value in the Braves' return package. Atlanta, meanwhile, doesn't have the deepest farm system to mine trade assets from.
Gilbert clearly has the talent to seriously improve Atlanta's title odds. Last season, he posted a 4.7 walk rate, which landed in the MLB's 95th percentile. He has a strong command of the strike zone and he's still very much on the upswing. That said, don't count on Gilbert being dealt any time soon.
Braves Rumors: Potential trade package to land Rays' Randy Arozarena in Atlanta
MLB insider Jack Azoulay-Haron recently reported the Tampa Bay Rays will listen to trade offers for left fielder Randy Arozarena. The 28-year-old, who earned his first All-Star berth last season, should draw interest from every corner of the MLB if he's available.
The Braves' focus appears to be on pitching, but Arozarena is an affordably priced star under team control through 2026. The Braves would have to trade the farm to acquire him, but outfield — and particularly left field — was a real point of weakness for an otherwise dominant Braves lineup last season. The rich would get richer here, with Arozarena joining the best offense in MLB history in the middle of his prime.
Arozarena was prolific as the heart and soul of a 99-win Rays team last season. He slashed .254/.364/.425 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs. He also stole 22 bases, impacting every area of the game. The Braves already have historic power and a couple deadly base-runners, headlined by unanimous National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. An outfield triumvirate of Acuña, Arozarena, and sophomore Michael Harris II is quite the enticing thought.
Chase Irle of Sports Talk ATL has a robust trade proposal to get both sides across the finish line.
This feels like a fair swap. The Braves get an immediate All-Star contributor at a position of need. The Rays add an All-Star pitcher in Bryce Elder, who should be able to rebound from last season's disappointing finish. Vaughn Grissom is a talented bat and Atlanta's best "prospect." Owen Murphy, a 2022 first-round pick, offers upside in the bullpen.
Tampa Bay gets affordable talent to keep them in the contenders' circle while the Braves bolster their already-elite offense. It's probably a pipe dream, but Alex Anthopoulos has shocked the world before.
