Marcell Ozuna was involved in Reynaldo Lopez’s signing with the Braves.
Reynaldo Lopez was another big acquisition made by the Braves as they strengthened their bullpen once more. With an average velocity of 98.2 mph in 2023, the 29-year-old reliever provides Atlanta’s relief core with much-needed extra punch.
Lopez, who is ecstatic about the chance to pitch for a contending team, will receive at least $30 million over the course of the three-year agreement. It’s also noteworthy that, according to Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Lopez has an agent named Marcell Ozuna, who assisted in luring him to Atlanta.
Marcell Ozuna’s career has had an incredible comeback. Less than a year ago, he was placed in the doghouse due to several off-field incidents and subpar play on the field. After eight months, he’s helped the Braves sign free agents and is coming off a season with 40 home runs and 100 RBI.
If you have been following Ozuna’s situation closely, though, this should come as no surprise. The Big Bear, who never wavers in his optimism, has been a breath of fresh air in the clubhouse, come rain or shine.
It’s a major factor in the Braves’ refusal to consider releasing him, even in the face of media and fan demands. Ozuna has been a great veteran presence in the clubhouse, and his work ethic and positive attitude have never been questioned. Within the organization, his voice matters, and Alex Anthopoulos values the thoughts of both current and former coaches and players.
Reynaldo Lopez is reportedly going to be given a spring trial by Atlanta before the team decides how best to use him in April.
The Braves have a bad reputation for developing pitchers, so I like the idea of keeping all options open. With Lopez, they might be able to accomplish more, but at the absolute least, they now have another bullpen arm they can count on when things get tight.
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This offseason, Michael Soroka is moving from the Atlanta Braves to the Chicago White Sox for a change of scenery. He is excited to join the team because of some of his conversations with general manager Chris Getz.
According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, Michael Soroka stated, “Pretty cool vision, actually.” “I got a little excited talking to him on the phone, and when I spoke with Jared Shuster, it was pretty much the same.”
In exchange for Aaron Bummer, the Braves acquired Soroka, Jared Schuster, Nicky Lopez, Braden Shewmake, and Riley Gowens from the White Sox. Soroka continued by praising Chris Getz’s vision.
The staff members I’ve spoken with all seem to be in agreement, and with [Getz] in place, there will be a great combination of the new and analytical techniques that have been introduced to baseball over the past five years or so, along with the tried-and-true methods.
With the White Sox, Soroka hopes to make a little progress in his career. According to Baseball Reference, he pitched in just four out of seven games for the Braves last season and missed 2021 and 2022 due to injuries. When Soroka recorded a 2.68 ERA in 29 starts for the Braves in 2019, many thought he was a pitcher with upside.
In the long run, Soroka is a nice low-risk player with a high reward potential, but the White Sox appear headed toward a rebuild.
