MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 06: Mike Foltynewicz #26 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Minnesota Twins on August 6, 2019 at the Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Braves 12-7. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
The Braves have DFA’d a former NL All-Star
The Braves starting rotation is in flux to start the 2020 shortened season, but that didn’t stop them from giving up on a former top prospect and MLB All-Star.
Mike Foltynewicz, who’s been a shell of his former self for the past year and a half, has been designated for assignment. Given the relatively few starting pitching options available on the open market, don’t expect Folty to be jobless for long. Of course, given he is out of options, the Braves will try to trade him initially.
Mike Foltynewicz should have plenty of potential suitors
The 28-year-old is just two seasons removed from an All-Star appearance and top-10 Cy Young finish. Foltynewicz finished with a sub-3 ERA in 2018, and was thought to be Atlanta’s ace of the future if he kept ascending to stardom. The Braves should have no problem finding takers for Folty, who ended his 2019 season with a 6-1 stretch paired with a 2.65 ERA.
By DFA’ing Folty, the Braves will rely more heavily upon the likes of Mike Soroka, Max Fried, Sean Newcomb and Kyle Wright in limited action. On Monday against the Rays, Folty imploded, working just over three innings and giving up six runs and walking four. His velocity was down, signaling he could be dealing with some injury issues on the back end.
This comes just one start after he was dominated by the Miami Marlins, of all teams, and featured an ERA above 16. It’s safe to say Folty fell out of favor with Brian Snitker, leading to such a drastic move so early in the season.