During this busy Monday in Major League Baseball, the Braves have made two roster moves. Most importantly, they added a familiar face in Darren O’Day, who signed a minor league contract with the team.
After sitting on the shelf for a while, O’Day was brilliant for the Braves once he returned from injury. In 27 appearances from 2019-2020, he recorded a 1.25 ERA with an 11.6 K/9. For that reason, I thought it was a given the team would pick up his option for 2021. However, the lack of revenue due to COVID made money tight across the league, and the Braves were no different, leading them to decline the option, which turned out to be a pretty good decision.
O’Day ended up signing with the Yankees and battled injuries the entire season, appearing just 12 times for the Pinstripes. He’ll compete for a role in the bullpen and has a great chance of making the team, given how porous the right-handed relievers were for the Braves last season.
The other move was a subtraction, as Yoan Lopez was claimed by the Phillies after the Braves designated him for assignment last week.
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