TheAtlanta Bravestraded shortstop Erick Aybar to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday forMike Avilesand minor league catcherKade Scivicque. Wednesday,Avileswas designated for assignment by the Braves, and top prospectDansby Swansonmakes his major league debut.
Well, that didn’t take long. Much to no one’s surprise, less than 24 hours after obtaining former Detroit Tigers shortstopMike Aviles, the Atlanta Braves have designated him for assignment. The Braves now have ten days to either trade or release him.
After shortstop Erick Aybar was traded to the Tigers, the Braves immediately called up top prospectDansby Swanson. The Atlanta Braves are currently in the middle of a rebuilding process, naturally composed greatly of young prospects. They wasted no time (less than a solid 24-hours) with the decision to send down 35-year-oldAviles.
In a total of 68 games with the Detroit Tigers,Avileswas hitting .210 with a .527 OPS. As a utility player in 2016, he played all three outfield spots, second base, shortstop and third base for the Tigers.
More fromATL All Day
- Atlanta Braves: Felix Has Already Shown Enough to Win a Rotation Spot
- Atlanta Braves Implode Late To Phillies, Cole Hamels Remains Sidelined
- Kyle Wright Shines As Folty Struggles In Atlanta Braves Loss To Red Sox
- Atlanta Hawks Sweep Back-to-Back Games Over Weekend
- Atlanta Braves: Grapefruit League Play Check Up
This move suggests that obtaining minor league catching prospect,Kade Scivicque, was the real purpose of the trade. Not to mention, the Braves were eager to bring upSwanson, who joins the lineup at shortstop on Wednesday night. Of course, they also wanted Aybar off their hands and if nothing else, the trade proves this: If Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella wants a player traded, it WILL happen, regardless of value.
Swanson makes his debut
Additionally,Swansonmakes his major league debut Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins. Though naturally this is cause for great excitement, theAJC’s David O’Brienis warning Braves Country not to make too much of the “Dansby Era.”
VIADavid O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
"Maybe the former Marietta High, the handsome kid with the great hair and ready smile, not to mention the national championship, Golden Spikes and College World Series MVP awards at Vanderbilt, will meet or surpass all expectations immediately upon arrival when he starts Wednesday night at shortstop for the Braves against the Minnesota Twins.But given how extreme those expectations are with some folks for him or anyone else drafted so highly – he was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, who foolishly traded him to the Braves along with Ender Inciarte and Aaron Blair for Shelby Miller – and written about so much."
Next: Atlanta Braves to call up top prospect Dansby Swanson
"Just keep in mind, he’s 22; he’s only played 127 professional games including 84 above Single-A and none in Triple-A; he’s not a big power hitter or base stealer; he was hitting .261 with a .342 OBP, 26 extra-base hits (five triples, six homers) and a .745 OPS in 84 games at Double-A Mississippi, where the Braves would’ve kept him for at least another couple of weeks if they hadn’t traded Erick Aybar on Tuesday."
Add us as a preferred source onGoogleLoading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations