Eddie Rosario Back In Big Leagues With Braves And Starting Monday
The Atlanta Braves selected the contract of outfielder Eddie Rosario from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday and optioned outfielder Luke Williams to Gwinnett in a corresponding move. The Braves also designated outfielder J.P. Martinez for assignment. Rosario is starting in left field and is batting seventh for Atlanta in Monday's series opener against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks and rookie right-hander Yilber Diaz, who will be making his major-league debut. The 32-year-old veteran will give Atlanta more outfield depth with Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) out for the season and Michael Harris II (hamstring) on the injured list. Rosario hit just .183/.226/.329 with seven homers, 26 RBI and eight steals in 67 games with the Nationals in 2024 before being cut, but he clubbed 21 home runs and drove in 74 in 142 games for the Braves just last year. Expect Rosario to be a platoon option back in Atlanta moving forward against right-handed pitching.
After being designated for assignment and subsequently released by the Washington Nationals this week, veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario signed a minor-league deal to return to the Atlanta Braves on Friday. Rosario is being assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett and will join the Stripers on Friday. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican outfielder just never got things going with the Nats, slashing .183/.226/.329 with seven home runs, 26 RBI, eight stolen bases and 26 runs scored in 219 at-bats. Rosario hit .255 (122-for-478) with 21 home runs and 74 RBI last year for Atlanta in 142 games, though, so it's not a big surprise they'd be interested in a reunion, especially with Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) out for the year and Michael Harris II (hamstring) on the injured list. Rosario should resurface in the big leagues in the second half in Atlanta as a platoon outfield option for the Braves against right-handers.
The Washington Nationals requested unconditional release waivers on outfielder Eddie Rosario on Wednesday after designating him for assignment earlier this week to make room on the active MLB roster for top prospect James Wood. Rosario is now free to sign with any team and should latch on with another organization as a veteran left-handed-hitting platoon outfielder. The 32-year-old won't be guaranteed any kind of playing time wherever he lands, especially after slashing just .183/.226/.329 with a .555 OPS, seven home runs, 26 RBI, eight stolen bases and 26 runs scored in 219 at-bats this year in Washington. The Puerto Rican outfielder is only a year removed from hitting .255/.305/.450 with 21 home runs and 74 RBI in 142 games for the Atlanta Braves in 2023.
The Washington Nationals designated veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario for assignment on Monday to make room for top outfield prospect James Wood on the active 40-man roster. Somebody had to go to make room for one of the best prospects in baseball, and it ended up being Rosario, who struggled to a .183/.226/.329 slash line in 219 at-bats this year while also carrying a measly .555 OPS, seven home runs, 26 RBI, eight stolen bases and 26 runs scored for the Nats. The 32-year-old left-handed hitter had an even worse .450 OPS in June to seal the deal. If Rosario clears waivers, he should latch on with another organization looking for a veteran left-handed bat. Rosario still has some pop in his lumber, but his days of contributing regularly for fantasy managers are probably over.
Washington Nationals outfielder Eddie Rosario is hitting .086 in 23 games so far this year, including an 0-for-2 performance with two strikeouts in Thursday's loss to the Texas Rangers. Despite his slow start, manager Dave Martinez plans to stick with the nine-year big-leaguer who has a history of struggling at the plate in March and April. "It's early," said Martinez. "You've got to give him a chance, you really do. I'm not going to sit him down yet right now. He's got to go out there and play. I've seen him play before. This kid can hit. He can put you on his shoulders." The 32-year-old is a career .265 hitter, but he's hit just .205 in March and April. But Rosario's average exit velocity (88.6 mph) and hard-hit rate (38.5%) are below league average, and fantasy managers in deeper leagues shouldn't have the same patience as Martinez.
Eddie Rosario, Luis Garcia Jr. Sitting Versus Lefty
Washington Nationals outfielder Eddie Rosario and second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. are both sitting on Saturday with the team taking on a left-handed pitcher against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Rookie outfielder Jacob Young will start in center field and bat ninth, while Ildemaro Vargas is playing the keystone and hitting seventh versus Phillies southpaw Ranger Suarez. The 32-year-old Rosario probably isn't going to play much against lefties in his platoon role in D.C. in 2024, so this shouldn't be a big surprise. Garcia, 23, is hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a league-leading five doubles, but the Nats also want to pick and choose their spots with the young infielder this year. It's hard to recommend either Vargas or Young in DFS contests while at the bottom of Washington's lineup on Saturday.
Washington Nationals outfielders Eddie Rosario and Joey Gallo and second baseman Luis Garcia are all on the bench on Monday with the team facing a left-hander in Pittsburgh Pirates southpaw Marco Gonzales. Victor Robles is getting the start in center field and is batting ninth, Joey Meneses is starting at first base and batting third, and Ildemaro Vargas is at the keystone and hitting seventh. Rosario started the first three games of the year for the Nats in center field and went 3-for-11 with a home run over the weekend. Gallo also started each of the team's first three games against right-handed pitchers and went hitless in 12 at-bats with six strikeouts. The 30-year-old slugger is unlikely to play much against lefties in 2024. Garcia went 2-for-11 with a walk and four strikeouts in the first three games of the year.
After reassigning outfielder Eddie Rosario to minor-league camp on Saturday in a procedural move, the Washington Nationals selected both he and outfielder Jesse Winker to the major-league roster on Sunday. Given the lack of experienced options in the outfield for the rebuilding Nationals in 2024, Rosario was signed earlier this month to give the team a stable left-field presence. He could get off to a slow start this year after going just 3-for-18 in his seven Grapefruit League games, but don't ignore the power-hitting left-hander in NL-only leagues just because in D.C. The 32-year-old veteran Puerto Rican slugger might not be much to look at against left-handers, but he did manage 21 home runs and 74 RBI in 142 games played last year for the Atlanta Braves.
Washington Nationals outfielder Eddie Rosario has been reassigned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, but it's a procedural move. The Nationals have until noon on Sunday to add Rosario to their 40-man roster. The move doesn't mean Rosario still can't make the Opening Day roster out of camp. If the 32-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran makes the team, he'll make $4 million in the majors, plus incentives. After signing with Washington on March 6, Rosario has hit just .167 with three RBI and four walks in 18 Grapefruit League at-bats. Still, given the nature of the Nationals' rebuilding roster, Rosario could make the big-league roster and at least serve in a platoon role against right-handed pitching in their outfield in 2024. That would make him fantasy relevant in NL-only leagues for his pop.
Nationals Agree With Eddie Rosario On Split Contract
The Washington Nationals agreed with free-agent outfielder Eddie Rosario on a split contract on Wednesday. The deal could earn Rosario up to $4 million in 2024 with incentives. The deal is pending a physical, according to sources. The 32-year-old veteran outfielder has a good shot of cracking Washington's major-league roster in the midst of their rebuild, and he could be on the strong side of a platoon in the outfield or at designated hitter while facing right-handed pitching. His signing is bad news for both the left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker and right-handed-hitting Stone Garrett, who is coming of a serious leg injury in 2023. Rosario played in 142 games with Atlanta last year and hit .255/.305/.450 with 21 homers and 74 RBI in 516 plate appearances. He'll be an option for outfield depth for his power in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues if he's playing regularly in D.C.
