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The Atlanta Braves are seven games back of wild card spot entering play on Monday. Their roster could see some significant changes in the coming weeks.
The Braves are playing better baseball, but will be without Chris Sale for an indefinite amount of time. He fractured his rib against the New York Mets and landed on the injured list. The Braves called up Austin Cox from Triple-A Gwinnett after Sale was put on the injured list.
Cox was signed by the Braves on May 5, after he was released by the Kansas City Royals organization. FanSided's Zachary Rotman predicted the Braves would cut ties with him before the trade deadline, less than three months after he was signed by the team.
"Is this fair? Perhaps. Cox has just one MLB appearance this season, and he pitched a scoreless inning," wrote Rotman. "Still, virtually every bullpen has at least one spot for the team to use to essentially keep a fresh arm at the MLB level. Cox occupies that spot. Eventually, the Braves will need to promote a fresh arm in a game where Cox throws an inning or two. Since he's one of several left-handers Atlanta has to offer and he has minor league options, he's an easy reliever for the team to send down at some point in favor of a fresh arm."
Once he is sent down, it's hard to envision him getting another crack in the big leagues. The Braves will get Sale back at some point, they hope, and then there will be no room for Cox on the roster.
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He made his debut in 2018, but has been pitching in the minor leagues ever since. He had a 4.58 ERA at Triple-A Gwinnett, so the Braves may have already gotten the best out of him during his one scoreless inning of work.
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