The Braves are expected to sign former Orioles utility infielder Ryan Flaherty to a major league contract, a move that would give them another solid multi-position defender and left-handed bat.
Flaherty, 31, was released by the Phillies last week after exercising a clause in his minor league contract that required the Phillies to either add him to the 40-man major league roster or make him a free agent.
He had an uncharacteristically strong spring training at the plate, batting .351 (13-for-37) with three doubles, one homer, a .390 OBP, .514 slugging percentage and only three strikeouts.
He’s a .215 career hitter with a .284 OBP and .639 OPS and 35 home runs in 1,270 plate appearances over six seasons with the Orioles, including 10 homers in 271 plate appearances in 2013. He filled in for injured shortstop Manny Machado late in the 2014 season and playoffs, turning in several stellar defensive plays in the postseaon and going 4-for-12 with a homer and three walks in the American League Championship Series against the Royals.
The Orioles tried to re-sign Flaherty to a minor league deal this week but fell short after the Braves approached him with a potential major league deal.
Since taking over as Braves general manager in November, Alex Anthopoulos has repeatedly said defense would be a priority, and this would be a move along those lines. The Braves want to make sure they are as sound defensively as possible behind their young and promising pitching staff.
Flaherty can play all of the infield positions and both corner outfield spots, and was also manager Buck Showalter’s emergency catcher with the Orioles, though he never had to use him in that capacity. More than half of Flaherty’s 318 career starts have come at second base (162), but he also has 78 starts at third base, 39 at shortstop, 27 in the outfield and 12 at first base.
The Braves will presumably have Flaherty on the opening-day roster instead of taking six outfielders or three catchers. Until phenom prospect Ronald Acuna arrives to take over in left field, Braves manager Brian Snitker had mentioned the possibility of opening with outfielders Preston Tucker, Lane Adams, Ezequiel Carrera and Danny Santana all on the roster along with starting center fielder Ender Inciarte and right fielder Nick Markakis.
Flaherty’s arrival would likely force one of those extra outfielders off the opening day roster, and another of them could get displaced by outfielder Peter Bourjos, yet another expected late addition. The Braves were working to finalize a deal Sunday with Bourjos, two days after he was released by the Cubs.
The Braves have Charlie Culberson as their primary utility infielder and Santana can also play most positions in the infield in addition to the outfield. Versatile Johan Camargo is penciled in as the starting third baseman this season but will spend at least the first week of the season on the disabled list recovering from a strained oblique.
Rio Ruiz was expected to be the opening-day third baseman and get most of the playing time at the position until Camargo returns, which could be as early as April 6 in the seventh game of the season.
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