First, let’s start with the news. The Atlanta Braves have completed a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays that brings in third baseman Ryan Schimpf. He costs the team virtually nothing (a player to be named later or cash) and is therefore entirely expendable, should the team feel he’s not right for them.
That’s kind of an underwhelming introduction, to say the least, but the Braves have been looking for another third baseman that would not be a block to Austin Riley. They’ve also been looking for a bat to provide some thump… and a lefty bat would play well at SunTrust Park.