Jake

Fraley

The deal is now official. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times adds that the deal also includes $400,000 in roster-based incentives. Fraley returns to Tampa Bay as an ideal fit for their platoon-heavy outfield mix after being non-tendered last week. The 30-year-old righty-mashing corner outfielder was limited to just 76 games between the Braves and Reds this past season due to injuries. He’s a logical bounce-back candidate, but his rather limited role reduces his fantasy appeal to extremely deep mixed leagues and AL-only formats.

The Rays claimed Fraley off waivers from the Braves earlier this month but then non-tendered him rather than risk paying him $3.5 million-$4 million in arbitration. The 30-year-old Fraley, who typically starts in a corner outfield spot against right-handers, has a career OPS+ right at the league average of 100, though he’s been about five points under that the last two years. He’s a nice fallback option, but he shouldn’t be promised a starting gig at this point.

Fraley will hit the market, but Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Rays will have interest in re-signed Fraley. The 30-year-old outfielder will likely see interest from other clubs as a fourth outfielder, as well.

Fraley was claimed off waivers earlier this month from Atlanta and figures to be on the move again. He would’ve made an interesting platoon option for Tampa Bay next season but he winds up getting caught up in a roster crunch ahead of next month’s Rule 5 Draft.

It’s challenging to think of a better fit between a players skillset and a team philosophy than Fraley and the Rays. The 30-year-old righty-mashing on-base machine seems like an ideal addition for the platoon-heavy Rays as they look to rebuild their bench heading into next season. He represents a relatively low-risk gamble for Tampa Bay after injuries limited him to just 76 games between the Braves and Reds last season.

The procedural move frees up a spot on Atlanta’s 40-man roster to bring in former pitching prospect Carson Ragsdale off waivers from the Orioles. The 30-year-old outfielder hit the injured list with a season-ending oblique strain earlier this week.

Fraley has played sparingly for Atlanta since being claimed off waivers from the Reds back in mid-August, getting into just nine contests. The 30-year-old platoon outfielder is presumably on the shelf for the rest of the season with only two weeks of action left.

The Sean Murphy injury cleared the way for Ozuna to finish the season as the Braves’ everyday DH, but he needs to hit. Alas, he’s at just .130/.250/.185 with two RBI in his last 18 games. The Braves have Jake Fraley in the outfield and Ronald Acuña Jr. DHing tonight.

Congrats to Profar and his growing family. He will miss up to three games, while Luke Williams and Jake Fraley get extra playing time in his absence.

Fraley entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Eli White in the seventh inning and singled into left field, though he was left stranded there. He then reached on an infield single to start the ninth inning and rode home on Drake Baldwin’s game-winning blast. For the season, the 30-year-old outfielder is now hitting .249/.342/.401 with six homers, 23 RBI and four stolen bases in 202 plate appearances between the Reds and Braves.