Getty Images After reaching a two-year contract with backup catcher Gerald Laird earlier today, the Braves are staying busy.
Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that the Braves hosted free agent outfielder B.J. Upton this afternoon at Turner Field. Both general manager Frank Wren and manager Fredi Gonzalez were on hand for the meeting.
It’s not clear whether a contract offer was made today, but Bowman writes that the Braves appear to regard Upton “as the most attractive outfielder available on the free agent market.” This would seem to indicate that they prefer him over fellow free agent Michael Bourn, who enjoyed a career-year with the Braves in 2012, but is two years older. They should have plenty of competition for Upton, though, as the Phillies, Nationals and Rangers have also been mentioned as possible fits.
Upton, 28, batted .246/.298/.454 with a .752 OPS this season. He has amassed at least 18 home runs and 31 stolen bases in each of the last three seasons.
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It was not a matter of “if”, but “when”. All good things must come to an end. And other cliches. Today, the Orioles finally lost a game when leading after seven innings for the first time in 110 games, per ESPN Stats & Info. The Orioles led 6-4 over the Rays heading into the ninth. Closer…
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David Ortiz hits two homers, drives in six as Red Sox drub the Twins
May 18, 2013, 11:25 PM EDT
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Even at the age of 37 and less than a year separated from an Achilles injury, David Ortiz can still hit with the best of them. The slugger entered tonight’s game against the Twins with a .999 OPS, including five home runs and 23 RBI in 98 trips to the plate. Since joining the club…
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AP
The Athletics designated first baseman Daric Barton for assignment earlier today as the 27-year-old was carrying a sluggish .143 average through 23 plate appearances. On the other side of the country, the Mets have just about hit their tipping point with Ike Davis as D.J. Short pointed out earlier. Davis is hitting .156 with 46…
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The Evan Gattis story keeps on getting better. With the Braves struggling to put together any kind of offensive threat against Dodgers starter Chris Capuano, trailing 1-0 heading into the eighth, Evan Gattis provided a pinch-hit two-run home run against reliever Kenley Jansen to give the Braves the 2-1 lead and eventually the win. A…
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Reuters
J.A. Happ was hit on the head with a Desmond Jennings line drive on May 7, suffering a minor skull fracture. While falling to the ground, Happ twisted his knee, and it is the latter injury that is causing him to progress slowly as the lefty has yet to pitch off a mound. Manager John…
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AP
With Franklin Gutierrez working his way back into playing shape after landing on the DL with a strained right hamstring, Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times suggests Endy Chavez could be the odd man out to create room on the roster. Chavez has a .288 on-base percentage and .310 slugging percentage. Meanwhile, Jason Bay and…
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Padres lefty Cory Luebke has suffered a setback in his quest to return from Tommy John surgery, stopping his throwing program for the second time in 2013 according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock. Luebke posted a 2.61 ERA in five starts last year before landing on the DL in late April and undergoing TJ surgery in…
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The Braves just received some bad news on reliever Eric O’Flaherty, as the lefty was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. Losing O’Flaherty means the Braves have just one left-hander in the bullpen in Luis Avilan. As a result, the Braves signed Joe Beimel to a minor league contract per Tim…
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AP
If you needed a reminder that Joey Votto is the best pure hitter in baseball, you got one this evening as the Reds defeated the Phillies 10-0. Joey Votto came to the plate six times and reached base all six times, including a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that served as…
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AP
Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia had two uncharacteristically bad starts against the Rockies and Brewers recently, surrendering five and six runs, respectively. Garcia dealt with shoulder issues last year and they may be to blame for his recent adversity as well. The Cardinals have placed him on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain,…
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Eric O’Flaherty has torn ulnar collateral ligament in elbow, Tommy John surgery next?
May 18, 2013, 6:15 PM EDT
AP
UPDATE: It looks like Eric O’Flaherty is facing the worst-case scenario, as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. He’ll see Dr. James Andrews next week, but it would be a surprise if Tommy John surgery wasn’t the next step. The…
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Troy Tulowitzki says he wasn’t accusing Madison Bumgarner of cheating
May 18, 2013, 6:05 PM EDT
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In a season that has already endured the drama of one cheating allegation, another was set to boil last night when Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki asked umpire Tim McClelland to inspect the baseball Giants starter Madison Bumgarner was gripping. McClelland gave it a once-over, then tossed the ball out of play. Bumgarner said something to…
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Jake “The Snake” Roberts sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” last night at Turner Field
May 18, 2013, 5:40 PM EDT
AP
This story is only tangentially linked to baseball, but it’s a slow Saturday afternoon, so what the heck. As you’ll see below, former pro wrestler Jake “The Snake” Roberts led the Turner Field crowd in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during last night’s game between the Dodgers and Braves. Roberts (whose real name is…
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Robinson Cano homered twice while David Phelps had the longest outing of his career as the Yankees topped the Blue Jays 7-2 this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. Brandon Morrow, who was recently skipped twice in Toronto’s rotation due to neck and back tightness, gave up five runs in five innings in the loss. Cano did…
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Angels claim infielder Chris Nelson off waivers from the Yankees
May 18, 2013, 4:39 PM EDT
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Chris Nelson is on the move again. After being designated for assignment by the Yankees earlier this week, Nelson has been claimed off waivers by the Angels. Nelson began the season as the Rockies’ starting third baseman, but he batted .242/.282/.318 in 71 plate appearances before losing his job to Nolan Arenado and being traded…
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Josh Johnson was off to an awful start before he landed on the disabled list last month with right triceps inflammation, but he’s ready to return to game action. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports that Johnson is slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment Monday with High-A Dunedin. He will likely need two or…
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With Johnny Cueto slated to return from a lat strain on Monday, the Reds have optioned left-hander Tony Cingrani back to Triple-A Louisville. Neftali Solo has been called up to take his place on the active roster. Cingrani was pretty impressive during his first stint in the majors, posting a 3.27 ERA and 41/9 K/BB…
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Nolan Reimold placed on disabled list with hamstring strain, Jair Jurrjens called up
May 18, 2013, 2:02 PM EDT
Nolan Reimold hasn’t played in a game in a week and now the Orioles have placed him on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Reimold has been nursing a hamstring issue since the first week of the season, but he has remained on the active roster until now. However, it’s likely a big…
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Quote of the Day: Brian Cashman is keeping Ben Francisco around to “piss everybody off”
May 18, 2013, 1:30 PM EDT
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The Yankees designated infielder Alberto Gonzalez for assignment this afternoon in order to make room for the newly-acquired Reid Brignac. Some thought that Ben Francisco‘s roster spot could be in jeopardy, as he’s hitting just .114 (5-for-44) in 21 games, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman joked to reporters today that he’s keeping him around…
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Matt Garza to return from disabled list Tuesday, Carlos Villanueva headed to bullpen
May 18, 2013, 12:40 PM EDT
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Matt Garza has been cleared to return from the disabled list and will make his season debut Tuesday against the Pirates, according to CSNChicago.com. Garza didn’t throw a pitch after July 21 last season due to a stress reaction in his elbow and was forced to begin this season on the disabled list due to…
