The Atlanta Braves have been proactive this year, bringing in former players and rivals in an attempt to improve questionable depth. One such move was signing former Miami Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper to a minor league deal. The veteran is likely remembered by Atlanta fans, considering his 2019-2022 seasons spent with Miami. Cooper hit .274 and was a reliable offensive contributor before injuries derailed his career and forced the veteran to look at minor league deals.
Atlanta took advantage of this, adding Cooper as a potential replacement if Matt Olson dealt with any serious injury. After two months of underwhelming production, the Braves have released the veteran from Gwinnett, with the veteran's numbers plummeting in the wrong direction. It is the right time to pivot for the Braves with Cooper clearly not factoring into the team's future.
Braves Releasing the Struggling Garrett Cooper Is the Right Decision
Matt Olson is an iron man who has proven to be allergic to any long-term injuries. This fact, combined with Cooper's poor minor league performance, left Atlanta no reason to continue to retain the veteran. It is a valuable roster spot the Braves can use to evaluate a player who has a real chance of making Atlanta's big league roster.
Considering the active roster is currently carrying Stuart Fairchild, Luke Williams, and Orlando Arica, a clear path emerges. This trio of players is as offensively underwhelming a bench group as you can possibly put together. Williams and Fairchild are both simply rostered due to their defensive abilities and pinch-running options.
If the Braves have any reason to believe there is a superior option in Gwinnett, the team won't hesitate to make the move. For this reason, Cooper's release is the right decision as the team continues to search for possible bench upgrades.
With Nick Allen having solidified the shortstop position, it is possible the team looks to trade Orlando Arcia to create an additional spot for a viable pinch hitter. With this in mind, Cooper needed a strong offensive performance in Gwinnett to have a chance to fill this role with very limited defensive upside. Releasing Cooper is the right move for a team that must continue to search for upgrades.