ANAHEIM, California – It didn’t take long for Jake Fraley to find a new baseball home after the Cincinnati Reds designated him for assignment on Aug. 17.
The Atlanta Braves claimed the outfielder off waivers, assuming the prorated remainder of Fraley’s $3.13 million contract in the process.
When the Reds made the DFA move, they said part of the rationale for the timing was allowing Fraley the chance to finish the season with another team that might have more playing time for him rather than sit on the Reds’ bench. He had lost significant playing time since Miguel Andujar and Ke’Bryan Hayes were added at the trade deadline.
“We just came to the idea of giving Jake a chance to go play where maybe he thinks he deserves to play – which I understand – is maybe better than him sitting on the bench here,” manager Terry Francona said then.
Fraley, one of four players acquired from Seattle in the March 2022 trade for Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker, hit .232 with six home runs and a .710 OPS in 67 games for the Reds this season. He hit .260 with 38 home runs, 49 stolen bases and a .757 OPS in 362 career games with the Reds.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Cincinnati Reds OF Jake Fraley claimed off waivers by Atlanta Braves
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
