The Atlanta Braves continued to make personnel adjustments Sunday, announcing they’ve made a first baseman swap in acquiring Tyler Moore from the Washington Nationals for Nate Freiman.
The Braves also acquired left-handed reliever pitcher Eric O’Flaherty from the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier Sunday.
Moore will report to the team’s minor league camp. The hybrid utility man has largely spent his career playing outfield, but the Braves view him as a viable backup for Freddie Freeman if the All-Star first baseman continues to experience lingering wrist pain, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com:
The Nationals waived Moore on Thursday and outrighted him to Triple-A, nearly four months after he signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with the team to avoid arbitration.
Over four years with Washington, Moore is a career .228/.281/.401 hitter who has belted 24 home runs and had 91 RBI.
After a strong rookie campaign in which he hit .263 and hit 10 homers, Moore has struggled since. In 18 games this spring, he’s just 4-for-31 with a double, two home runs and three walks with six strikeouts.
Freiman has also struggled mightily this spring with a .120 average in 25 at-bats. At 6’8″ and 250 pounds, Freiman has the rare yet coveted frame of a powerful first baseman, but the struggling 29-year-old hasn’t seen MLB action since 2014.
Moore might have the better chance of making the Opening Day roster, as the Braves are in the midst of a major rebuild and lack offensive talent across the board. And if Freeman’s wrist becomes a problem, there could be a chance for Moore to contribute. However, the face of Atlanta’s struggling franchise has said the pain in his arm has largely subsided this spring, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s David O’Brien.
Freiman’s chances seem far less likely. Ryan Zimmerman will retain his post at first for the Nationals, and Clint Robinson has been a reliable backup, hitting .272 in 309 at-bats last year.
With Opening Day just a week away and rosters starting to take a sturdier form, there probably will be more trades like the one Sunday featuring players not likely to see much MLB time.
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