In the MLB, teams vying for a championship have been actively seeking impactful additions to bolster their squads for the final stretch of the season. Recently, the Atlanta Braves, a key division rival of the Philadelphia Phillies, made a notable yet somewhat desperate move.
Last week, the Braves signed veteran Eddie Rosario to a minor league deal, as reported by MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. This move was intended to provide additional depth and insurance for the team. However, Rosario’s contract was quickly upgraded, and he was called up to the major league roster on Monday. To everyone’s surprise, he was immediately placed in the starting lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Braves’ recent signing suggests a desperate move by a division rival of the Phillies.
The move might seem promising for Atlanta, given that Rosario was a key player for the Braves during his previous stint from 2021 to 2023. He played a crucial role in their 2021 World Series win and was named NLCS MVP. In his prior time with the Braves, he hit 33 home runs, drove in 114 RBIs, and posted a .243 batting average with a .718 OPS over 257 games. Atlanta likely hopes to rekindle that success with his return.
However, Rosario has struggled this season with the Washington Nationals, batting just .183 with a .555 OPS. He managed only 26 runs, seven home runs, 26 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 67 games. If Atlanta expects to see the same Rosario from his earlier Braves days, they may be disappointed. The fact that Rosario is being played despite his poor performance suggests that the Braves may lack other viable options within their organization.
For the Phillies, seeing Rosario’s continued struggles could be advantageous. If Rosario remains in the Braves’ lineup and continues to perform poorly, it could help the Phillies secure the NL East title sooner by capitalizing on their division rivals’ weaknesses.
