How They Were Acquired: The Atlanta Braves’ NLDS Roster
The Braves’ playoff roster includes seven players who joined the team during the 2019 season and two others who were acquired near the end of Spring Training. That’s pretty significant turnover in a fairly short amount of time for a team that won the NL East in 2018 and had pretty much wrapped up their offseason by the end of November after signing a former AL MVP to play third base and bringing back a catcher who was a seven-time All-Star during his first stint in Atlanta.
When the team struggled out of the gate, it became clear that the roster might not be good enough to reach the postseason once again. While the four homegrown players on the playoff roster did a lot of the leg work, combining for 18.2 WAR, second-year general manager Alex Anthopoulos made a lot of good moves that helped turn things around and has the team once again playing October baseball after a 97-win season.
Here’s how every member of the Braves’ 2019 NLDS roster was originally acquired. The team’s full RosterResource Depth Chart and Payroll pages are also available as a resource.
Homegrown (4)
- Freddie Freeman, 1B: Drafted Second Round 2007
- Ozzie Albies, 2B: Amateur Free Agent (Curacao) July 2013
- Ronald Acuña Jr., OF: Amateur Free Agent (Venezuela) July 2014
- Mike Soroka, SP: Drafted First Round (28) 2015
Total WAR: 18.2
Signed in Free Agency (9)
- Nick Markakis, OF: December 2014 (BAL) — Signed to four-year, $44 million contract; re-signed to one-year contract extension (2020 club option) in January.
- Tyler Flowers, C: December 2015 (CHW) — Signed to two-year, $5.3 million contract (included $4 million club option in 2018).
- Brian McCann, C: November 2018 (HOU) — Signed to one-year, $2 million contract.
- Josh Donaldson, 3B: November 2018 (CLE) — Signed to one-year, $23 million contract.
- Rafael Ortega, OF: January 2019 (MIA) — Signed to Minor League contract.
- Josh Tomlin, RP: March 2019 (MIL) — Signed to Minor League contract ($1.25 million salary).
- Dallas Keuchel, SP: June 2019 (HOU) — Signed to one-year, $21.21 million contract (prorated rate is $13 million).
- Adeiny Hechavarría, INF: August 2019 (NYM) — Signed to minimum salary contract for remainder of season.
- Francisco Cervelli, C/1B: August 2019 (PIT) — Signed to minimum salary contract for remainder of season.
Total WAR: 10.6
Acquired Via Trade (11)
- Max Fried, SP: December 2014 (SDP) — Acquired in trade that sent Justin Upton and Aaron Northcraft to the Padres.
- Mike Foltynewicz, SP: January 2015 (HOU) — Acquired in trade that sent Evan Gattis and James Hoyt to the Astros.
- Sean Newcomb, RP: November 2015 (LAA) — Acquired in trade that sent Andrelton Simmons and Jose Briceno to the Angels.
- Dansby Swanson, SS: December 2015 (ARI) — Acquired in trade that sent Shelby Miller and Gabe Speier to the Diamondbacks.
- Luke Jackson, RP: December 2016 (TEX) — Acquired in trade that sent Tyrell Jenkins and Brady M. Feigl to the Rangers.
- Adam Duvall, OF: July 2018 (CIN) — Acquired in trade that sent Lucas Sims, Preston Tucker, and Matt Wisler to the Reds.
- Darren O’Day, RP: July 2018 (BAL) — Acquired in trade that sent Evan Phillips, Bruce Zimmermann, Brett Cumberland, JC Encarnacion, and international bonus slot money to the Orioles.
- Matt Joyce, OF: March 2019 (SFG) — Acquired in trade that sent cash considerations to the Giants.
- Chris Martin, RP: July 2019 (TEX) — Acquired in trade that sent Kolby Allard to the Rangers.
- Mark Melancon, RP: July 2019 (SFG) — Acquired in trade that sent Dan Winkler and Tristan Beck to the Giants.
- Shane Greene, RP: July 2019 (DET) — Acquired in trade that sent Travis Demeritte and Joey Wentz to the Tigers.
Total WAR: 10.3
Acquired Off Waivers (1)
- Billy Hamilton, OF: August 2019 (KCR)
Total WAR: 0.1
A couple minor typos – Keuchel was signed in June 2019, not 2018. Gattis and Hoyt went to the Astros, not the Braves.
Also, Markakis’ original deal expired after last year. He signed a new 2 year deal in January this year for $10M total.
Thanks Anon. For free agents, I’m only showing original contract since that’s most relevant to how the player got there.
Do you care to explain why you think the original contract is more relevant than a second contract that was signed after the player was granted free agency?
I could see your rationale for players that were extended, but Markakis was entirely separated from the team when he signed this past offseason.
Markakis in 2019 was not a midmarket signing; he was closer to a scrap heap veteran.
Not to the overall state of the team. Re-signing him was important. But in regards to this particular “how acquired” piece, it’s just a reference to how he originally came to the team.
Brian McCann originally came to the team via draft. They later acquired his services for the current team via a free agency signing. I think the distinction matters.
Well, then McCann and Flowers should be under “Drafted.” Just kidding.
I still don’t really get it, but it doesn’t really matter. These articles are going to tell you something, but they aren’t really a full story of how a good team was created. The Braves success is largely about what they haven’t done. They have not signed any players likely to turn into dead money. They also traded well.
I get your point but I think your alternative is a little misleading if the point is to say how he got there. He never left. He had the ability to leave. But he didn’t.
It’s more accurate to say he did leave, found no market, and signed back with the only team that wanted him.
I mean, I’m sure he could’ve signed for less/signed a minor league deal elsewhere. I don’t think it’s super important to the greater point though.
Also, Donaldson came from the Indians!