Braves reportedly sign $126M 16-year veteran with World Series experience amid brutal stretch

The Atlanta Braves are nowhere near the team they were at the start of the regular season. They once held a comfortable lead in the NL East, but that advantage has quickly disappeared.

With the trade deadline just over a month away, it appears Atlanta will have some moves to make. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has already hinted that the Braves will likely be active.

“I fully expect and hope that we will be engaged in trades come July. I'm not trying to overly excite anybody or promise anything. But if we're playing the way we are right now, we're going to be in there,” Anthopoulos said.

The concerning part is that the Braves are no longer playing the same brand of baseball they were when Anthopoulos made those comments in early June. In fact, Atlanta has lost 11 of its last 15 games.

“Being limited to one hit over seven scoreless innings by Giants ace Logan Webb was the least of concerns for the Braves, who have lost 11 of their past 15 games. This has been a rough month for the offense, which has missed the injured Ronald Acuña Jr. But the starting rotation has also been a problem, constructing a 6.72 ERA during this 15-game skid,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote.

On Saturday night, the Braves made a move to bolster the organization by signing veteran first baseman Carlos Santana. He will begin his stint at Triple-A but could eventually be called up to fill a platoon role.

“Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a minor league contract, sources tell ESPN. Santana, 40, will head to Triple-A, where he provides insurance for Atlanta and can try to get back to the big leagues after being released by Arizona,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan posted.

Santana's signing is a meaningful addition for Atlanta, as he could become a valuable bench option thanks to his ability to hit from both sides of the plate. He also brings postseason experience, having appeared in the World Series with Cleveland in 2016.

Throughout his 16-year career, Santana has earned more than $126 million in contracts. The Braves are hoping this relatively low-risk signing will produce significant value. Anthopoulos has built a reputation for finding hidden gems with moves like this, and Atlanta is simply looking for anything that can help turn its season around.

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