Bud Norris: Braves Sign Veteran RHP to 1-Year Deal

Every season, the Atlanta Braves seem to sign a pitcher who in past had some success, but recently has suffered through some struggles on the mound or with injuries.

The Atlanta Braves are the kings of the starting pitcher scrap heap, and every season find a pitcher they think that they bring back to their former glory with an affordable and team friendly contract. Sometimes, this strategy pays off for the Braves, as it did a couple of seasons ago. In 2014, Aaron Harang was their scrap heap gem, who pitched exceptionally well with Atlanta. Harang recorded a respectable 3.57 ERA in 33 starts to go along with a 1.40 WHIP. Harang parlayed his relative success in a Braves uniform into a one-year, $5 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Though Aaron Harang’s signing was a steal for the Atlanta Braves, most of their pitcher reclamation projects have not had the same degree of success. Gavin Floyd was one such pitcher, who only made 9 starts with the Braves in 2014 before suffering another arm injury.

More from ATL All Day

In the 2015 season, the new Braves administration tried this strategy once again with Eric Stults and Trevor Cahill. The Braves signed Eric Stults to a minor-league deal while the Braves acquired Cahill via a trade with the Dodgers. Stults recorded a 2.91 ERA two years prior to signing the contract, while Cahill was once a top prospect for the Oakland Athletics.

Both pitchers recorded horrendous ERA’s as members of the Atlanta Braves. Stults possessed a 5.85 ERA in 8 starts for the Braves last season before departing via a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Trevor Cahill was arguably worse, recording a 7.52 ERA in 3 starts and 12 relief appearances. The Braves released Cahill in June of 2015.

Enter Bud Norris, the latest in a series of scrap heap signings for the Atlanta Braves, who signed him to a 1-year contract on Wednesday. Though Bud Norris was never an ace or a dominant pitcher in the league, his good health afforded him the opportunity to become an innings eater at the major league level.

More from Atlanta Braves

Bud Norris is coming off his worst season in the league for both the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Chargers, where he recorded a 6.72 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 85 innings pitched in 2014. If the Atlanta Braves are trying to become competitive in the future, I would assume that the signing of Bud Norris is merely to provide starting pitching depth while the organization continues to assess the progress of its young starters like Tyrell Jenkins, Sean Newcomb, Chris Ellis and Max Fried.

The Atlanta Braves most certainly possess a surplus of starting pitching depth in their minor league system, but the signing of Norris is a good move in my opinion — even if it is putting off the inevitable take-over of the rotation by prospects. Last season, the Braves may have made the mistake of rushing some of their young pitchers (most notably Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz) into the league. Both Wisler and Foltynewicz had their fair share of struggles, which is not beneficial to the psyche of a young player.

Next: Matt Wisler: Does He Take a Step Forward in 2016?

Even if Bud Norris puts up the same numbers as he did last season, his contract is not prohibitive, and the Braves can easily slot one of their prospects into the rotation if he is DFA’d early in the season. Overall, this move is inconsequential, and is merely to provide more veteran starting pitching depth, because you know, the oldest member of the Braves rotation is currently Shelby Miller, who is at the ripe old age of 25-years-old. Stay tuned for ongoing updates on the Atlanta Braves and their offseason moves.

Home/Atlanta Braves