Braves shopping Scott Thorman
Two Atlanta Braves beat writers are reporting that the Braves are shopping their backup first baseman, Scott Thorman.
Bill Shanks of Scout.com reported it first in his March 7 notes and the blurb was later confirmed by David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Both believe the trade could be done in an effort to get some more relief pitching, but their opinions differ on who the team would use as the team’s backup first baseman to Mark Teixeira. Shanks seems to think the team could use Mark Kotsay in the role, but O’Brien says he doesn’t see it. Shanks also mentions Brayan Pena as a possibility, but O’Brien gets the feeling that Pena won’t make the team. The likely scenario would be Joe Borchard making the team and using a patchwork of Matt Diaz, Borchard and Javy Lopez at first on the rare occasion that Teixeira doesn’t play.
Thorman is out of minor league options and has a swing that isn’t suited to come off the bench. With notes concerning the health of Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan, the Braves two top relief pitchers, surfacing, the fact the Braves are looking for more relief isn’t much of a surprise.
Filed under: Atlanta Braves, Javy Lopez, Mark Kotsay, Mark Teixeira, Matt Diaz, Scott Thorman