The Atlanta Braves have announced the signing of utility player Jorge Mateo to a one-year contract, providing him with a $1 million guarantee according to reports from Francys Romero of BeisbolFR. This move comes shortly after the team made space on their 40-man roster by placing José Suarez on waivers, allowing them to fill that spot effectively.
The signing of Mateo follows unfortunate news regarding shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who suffered a hand injury after slipping on ice in South Korea. Kim underwent surgery in Atlanta to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger and is expected to be sidelined for four to five months, which poses a significant challenge for the Braves as they relied on him to be their everyday shortstop.
With Kim’s injury, Mauricio Dubón has become the team’s everyday shortstop. Although he has played 107 games at the position in his career, with his performances peaking last year at 33 games, there are concerns about his ability to adequately fill the role full-time. His defensive metrics show some promise, but the overall lack of experience suggests added pressure on Dubón.
The Braves faced limited depth options behind Dubón. Nacho Alvarez Jr. has shortstop experience in the minors but has primarily been used at second and third base, while Aaron Schunk, although signed to a minor league deal, has also exhibited minimal shortstop capability. In light of these circumstances, the Braves needed to act swiftly to bolster their infield depth.
Mateo, who has dealt with injury setbacks in recent seasons, presents a low-risk opportunity for the Braves. After playing just 111 games over the past two years due to a variety of injuries, including a serious elbow issue and a hamstring strain, Mateo’s offensive output has been underwhelming, with a career batting line of .221/.266/.363 and a wRC+ of 75.
However, Mateo possesses speed and defensive skills that could benefit Atlanta; he has demonstrated the ability to steal bases effectively, racking up over 30 steals in both 2022 and 2023, and has considerable defensive experience at shortstop as evidenced by over 2,320 innings played there, showcasing his value to the team if he can stay healthy.
Mateo’s addition provides the Braves with more flexibility and depth to account for Kim’s absence. With both Mateo and Dubón likely to compete for shortstop duties in spring training, the Braves may explore utilizing both players in various utility roles. Once Kim returns, the team will have to navigate their roster space, especially if injuries continue to arise.
This signing illustrates the Braves’ proactive approach to maintaining competitiveness despite setbacks, potentially leading to an intriguing battle for playing time during the upcoming season.