The Atlanta Braves signed catcher Chuckie Robinson to a minor league contract Tuesday, adding depth to their Triple-A Gwinnett roster after a recent shuffle behind the plate.
Robinson landed with the Braves about a week after the Dodgers released him. The move came full circle – Los Angeles cut Robinson partly because they’d signed Chadwick Tromp, who’d been Atlanta’s depth catcher, to their own minor league deal.
“The Braves signed depth catcher Chuckie Robinson to a minor league contract. He’s in the lineup tonight with Triple-A Gwinnett,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco reported. “Robinson finds a new home around a week after being released by the Dodgers.”
It’s a necessary move for Atlanta. Losing Tromp left them short on experienced catching options behind Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin.
Robinson brings solid organizational depth. He’s spent the past two seasons in the Dodgers system and appeared in MLB games with Los Angeles. The 27-year-old made his big league debut four years ago and has been part of two World Series-winning teams during his time in LA.
Atlanta becomes Robinson’s fifth organization, which isn’t uncommon for depth catchers who bounce around looking for opportunities. He’ll get a chance to prove he can contribute if the Braves need catching help down the stretch.
Braves Struggling at the Plate
The signing comes as Atlanta tries to work through offensive struggles that have cost them ground in the NL East. The Braves dropped four of their last five games entering Tuesday, including a 4-1 loss to Minnesota that marked their first-ever series loss at Target Field.
“Attention has largely centered on the Braves’ rotation since the trade deadline, but the offense has sputtered – and it cost them another victory Tuesday,” AJC’s Gabriel Burns wrote. “The Braves lost 4-1 to the Twins, resulting in their first-ever series loss at Target Field (9-4 overall).”
It’s been a tough stretch for a team that looked like one of baseball’s best earlier this season. The pitching has held up reasonably well, but the bats have gone quiet at the worst possible time.
Atlanta also made another roster move Sunday, releasing veteran first baseman Carlos Santana from Triple-A Gwinnett. The move allows Santana to pursue opportunities elsewhere after hitting .292/.385/.382 with two home runs in 104 plate appearances.
“Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana will be granted his release from Triple-A Gwinnett today and will be a free agent,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. “He’s still looking to play and hopes to latch on with a team.”
The Braves need to get things turned around quickly. They can’t afford to keep dropping games with the division race heating up, and getting Robinson signed gives them one less thing to worry about if they need catching reinforcements.
