The Braves envisioned a significant bench role for Joe Mather when they claimed him off waivers from St. Louis in November.
On Tuesday, they designated him for assignment for the second time in four months, which might have ended a Braves career that never took flight except for one memorable weekend in Southern California.
After going 7-for-12 with a homer and five RBIs in three games May 20-22 against the Angels at Anaheim, Mather was 3-for-42 (.071) with two RBIs, four walks and 13 strikeouts in his last 21 games.
When outfielder Nate McLouth came off the disabled list Sunday, the Braves kept rookie Wilkin Ramirez as a backup outfielder and dropped Mather, who hit .213 with one homer, nine RBI and 23 strikeouts in 75 at-bats.
They have 10 days to trade, release or put him on waivers.
"That was a difficult decision," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalezsaid. "And like I told [Mather], this is not a 15-second decision, because he brings some flexibility, he can play all kinds of different positions. But we've struggled swinging the bat.
“We just made the decision to maybe give Ramirez an opportunity to do that job.”
Unlike Mather, Ramirez can’t play first or third base. Ramirez is strictly an outfielder. He has raw power and has hit some in limited chances in the majors with Detroit and Atlanta, going 5-for-18 with a double, a triple and a homer.
Because Mather was out of minor-league options, the Braves had to put him through waivers when they cut him near the end of spring training. He cleared and was outrighted to Gwinnett.
In order to outright him to the minors for a second time, the Braves would have to get Mather through waivers and then have him approve the move. He could instead choose to become a free agent if he clears waivers. The Braves will try to trade him rather than lose him to a waiver claim.
Beachy to start Wednesday
Brandon Beachy will skip his planned second rehab start and step into Tommy Hanson's rotation spot Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, barring any unexpected developments.
“It looks like it’s going to be him on Wednesday,” Gonzalez said Sunday.
Beachy has spent five weeks on the DL recovering from an oblique strain. He allowed one run, four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in five innings Thursday in a rehab start for Gwinnett.
The rookie right-hander was 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA in eight starts before his injury, with 48 strikeouts and 12 walks in 44-1/3 innings.
Hanson went on the DL Friday with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder and is expected to return after 15 days. Mike Minoris currently pitching in the fifth-starter spot that Beachy held before his oblique injury.
McLouth back, but in left
It was an eventful 24 hours for Nate McLouth, who got hit by a pitch in Triple-A, hit by a pitch in the majors, and made a diving catch at his new position in left field.
McLouth was activated by the Braves on Sunday after a nearly four-week stint on the DL for a strained oblique muscle.
He played three games on a rehab assignment at Gwinnett, going 3-for-6 with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He was hit by the pitch on Saturday in his final rehab game. Gonzalez laughed when he recalled what McLouth told him after Saturday’s game.
“He said he faced a left-hander about this big [held a hand shoulder-high] throwing about 100 [mph],” Gonzalez said. “He said, ‘I’m good [ready]. Get me out of here.’”
McLouth switched to left field from his usual center field upon returning to the majors, because the Braves wanted to keep Jordan Schaferin center. Schafer has played strong defense in McLouth's absence.
Chipper update
Third baseman Chipper Jonesmissed his third consecutive start with a strained right adductor muscle in his upper thigh. He hopes to be ready for pinch-hitting duty Monday and Tuesday, then return to the lineup.
Jones, 39, mentioned the DL possibility if his condition doesn’t improve within a few days to the point he can play and not just pinch-hit. He has also been playing for weeks with a small cartilage tear in his right knee.
