Braves Sign Juan Abreu

by cbwilk on Nov 24, 2009 8:23 PM EST in Braves Related Free Agents

The Braves have signed Minor League free agent reliever Juan Abreu and added him to their 40 Man roster. In a reversal of the usual way of things, the Braves signed a player who had been with the Royals, as Abreu has spent his entire career with Kansas City's farm system. He split last season between High Class A Wilmington, where he was stellar, with a 3-2 record, 1.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 11.8 strikeouts per 9 innings in 21.1 innings, and Double A Northwestern Arkansas, where he was fairly bad, with a 2-2 record, 5.75 ERA, and 2.01 WHIP in 20.1 innings. Though he did maintain his strikeout rate in AA, getting 11.1 batters per 9 innings to walk back to the dugout in shame, his walks jumped dramatically, as he walked more than one runner an inning.

Though he hasn't had an overly impressive Minor League career, racking up a 4.90 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 220.1 career innings, the Braves thought enough of him to not only sign him but to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 draft by placing him on their 40 man roster. With his strikeout ability, 10.9 Ks per 9 for his career, and 12.3 and 11.4 per the last two years, he obviously has a talented arm and maybe with the kind of pitching instruction the Braves are widely known for he can flourish.

(Hat tip to Andy Braves Fan and Mr. Sanchez for bringing this news to my attention.)

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EWWWW New fontt

MATT DIAZ IS THE F**K*NG MAN.
They made me change my signature...

by nick9314 on Nov 24, 2009 8:26 PM EST reply actions

I screwed something up and don’t know how to fix it. Whatever, as my friend said to me the other day, let the stupid shine.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 24, 2009 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

lol. jk

MATT DIAZ IS THE F**K*NG MAN.
They made me change my signature...

by nick9314 on Nov 25, 2009 12:22 AM EST up reply actions

Crazy font fixed.

by gondeee on Nov 29, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

Like the signing

a relievers’ success is so fickle. My thoughts on it have always been to bring in as many live arms as you can into spring training and hope a couple catch fire. Fairly low-risk, decent reward signing.

R.I.P Jazz #6

by was385 on Nov 24, 2009 9:11 PM EST reply actions

I agree 100%

As many live arms as you can find. There is the control issue, but someone might find it if we get enough. And he obviously has the stuff. Given the lack of money and players we have to give up, good signing.

by cavebird on Nov 24, 2009 10:55 PM EST up reply actions

I like this Wren guy

With Bobby’s last season in view, Wren is getting ready to brand this team his own. Like the direction of signing relievers right now.

by award6 on Nov 25, 2009 3:30 AM EST up reply actions

anyone know what his stuff is like?

i have been trying to find a scouting report.

by drumzalicious on Nov 25, 2009 2:21 AM EST reply actions

he throws in the 90-94 range with a decent slider and he walks his share. He is a little old though already being 25. But he has a really nice with good K rates. definitely a guy with value.

by yondaime4 on Nov 25, 2009 2:54 AM EST up reply actions

He’s a 24 year old in AA. I’m getting Stephen Marek flashbacks.

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by bigjoe on Nov 25, 2009 10:06 PM EST reply actions

I’m kind of baffled by him being added to the 40 man.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
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by cbwilk on Nov 26, 2009 2:35 AM EST up reply actions

When is the rule V draft?...

as I assume we can dfa some guys after that to open room for free agent signings. If the dates don’t mesh, then agree on the wtf-ness of it.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 26, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

I’m looking around and I’m not sure of the exact date, but it’s always at the end of the winter meetings, which I think are the 10-12th of December.
And I doubt they DFA anyone that they’re protecting on the 40 man right now, that’d be worse because then the other team could get the player and not have to keep him on their ML roster all year.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
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by cbwilk on Nov 27, 2009 1:27 AM EST up reply actions

just seems like a tight squeeze...

with 39 for a team that still has a closer, 1B, OF, and other needs to fill.

by Mr. Sanchez on Nov 27, 2009 8:23 AM EST up reply actions

We still haven’t gotten to the contract tender deadline which may end up taking guys like Kelly Johnson, Ryan Church, and Boone Logan off the roster. Plus, it seems like one of those needs it going to be filled with a trade, which will create some space.

I wrote a novel, it's about baseball, you should buy it: https://www.createspace.com/3407939
www.dropoutproductions.com

by cbwilk on Nov 27, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions