Evaluating the Atlanta Braves’ Midseason Acquisitions

The Atlanta Braves have been shuffling their roster all season to make up for injuries. Some have been metaphorical home runs. Others have been complete duds.

With the season coming to a close, it’s time to evaluate some of the Braves’ midseason acquisitions. Each player will be considered a hit or a miss.

Eddie Rosario

We wanted this to happen. We all wanted it to happen. The storyline was there for the taking. The 2021 NLCS MVP swoops in and helps save the Braves’ season. He did it three years ago. Maybe he can do it again.

No, he didn’t.

In 24 games, Rosario had a .154 average and a .463 OPS. Just a month after returning to Atlanta, he was designated for assignment and opted for free agency. Worth a shot.

Rating: Mrs.

Whit Merrifield

This acquisition couldn’t have had a more brutal start. Hours after signing, Merrifield was injured. A reinforcement needed a reinforcement.

He’s actually been injured twice since then. You can’t make this stuff up.

Still, Merrifield was a nice addition late in the season. His .675 OPS isn’t anything special, but that .344 on-base percentage was valuable to this lineup. Of the 54 times he got on base, he scored 22. He’s given the Braves opportunities to score. In a season like this, you take it.

Rating: Hit

Gio Urshela

If that grade had come in early September, Ursula would have gotten a rave review. In his first 12 games since joining the Braves, he had a .318 average and a .742 OPS.

He stepped up right after Austin Riley got hurt, and the Braves have won eight of those games. It’s been a struggle since then. He has a .160 average and a .472 OPS over his last 14 games. The Braves are .500 in that span.

The experiment had a great start, but it didn’t work in the long run.

Rating: Mrs.

Luke Jackson

Jackson came with Jorge Soler at the deadline. Soler was great, especially in September. Jackson, not so much.

To be fair to Jackson, he hasn’t allowed a single earned run in his last six appearances. He has a 1.74 ERA in his last 10 appearances.

However, he had several costly outings since July 30. He gave up four runs in the top of the eighth on August 11. The Braves continued to squander an 8-2 lead and lost three outs later, 9-8.

He lasted just one-third of an inning on Aug. 25, giving up three runs. The game quickly slipped out of reach.

These little moments could decide the Braves’ fate in the postseason. They can’t be ignored.

Rating: Mrs.

Ramon Laureano

What a success story. Laureano was released by the Cleveland Guardians after posting a .143 average and .494 OPS in 31 games.

He’s completely transformed in Atlanta. In 57 games with the Braves, Laureano has a .299 average and an OPS of .828. He’s had a hand in 55 scoring opportunities — 22 RBIs and 23 runs scored.

The Braves should consider keeping him on the team in 2025.

Rating: Hit