One day after Michael Reed was added to the 40-man roster and brought up from Triple-A Gwinnett, the Braves optioned the 25-year-old outfielder back to Gwinnett on Wednesday.
He didn’t get in a game, but Reed is on the 40-man roster now and isn’t out of minor league options. That means his salary is increased in the minors and the Braves can recall him at any point if they have a need.
“I told him, the reason you’re in this position is because your performance dictated that,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Now he’s another one that has options, so that’s a good person to have down there (at Triple-A) in the inventory, because who knows when we’ll need him? Just go down and keep doing what you’re doing.”
Reed, whose only major league experience came in September call-ups with the Brewers in 2015 and 2016, signed a minor-league deal with the Braves in November. He began the season at Double-A and in late May was promoted to Triple-A, where he hit .369 with eight doubles, five home runs and a 1.072 OPS in 30 games and played center field in 17 games.
He had a July 1 opt-out in his minor-league contract that permitted Reed to become a free agent if not added to the Braves’ major league roster by then. Rather than risk losing him and getting nothing in return, the Braves added him to the roster and brought him up for Monday’s series opener at Yankee Stadium.
When they needed a roster spot Tuesday to bring closer Arodys Vizcaino off the disabled list, Reed was sent back to Triple-A.
Snitker said his parting words for Reed were along the lines of this: “The reason you got this opportunity is because you performed, you did well. Little bit same scenario as Lane Adams did last year; he got noticed because he was performing. That’s the same thing with Michael; he did a really good job down there and the reports were good. He earned the opportunity to get this opportunity.”
Now that he’s on the 40-man roster, he’s at least in better position to get another opportunity with the Braves.
