The Atlanta Braves have added a catcher for their stretch run, claiming Rene Rivera on waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.
The #Braves today were assigned C René Rivera on waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. pic.twitter.com/v9LzwGikKg
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 29, 2018
In 30 games with the Angels this year, the 35-year-old Rivera has authored a .244/.287/.439 slash line with four home runs. Rivera signed a one-year, $2.8-million deal this past winter with the Angels and is eligible for free agency this offseason.
Rivera will join a Braves catching corps that includes Kurt Suzuki and Tyler Flowers, who inked a one-year, $4-million extension with Atlanta on Tuesday. Aside from being considered one of the better defensive duos in baseball, Suzuki and Flowers have produced very well offensively in a timeshare over the past two seasons. Since the beginning of 2017, Atlanta ranks second at wRC+ among catchers, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Braves recently designated catcher Chris Stewart for assignment and selected the contract of right-hander Luke Jackson from Triple-A Gwinnett.
For the Angels, Rivera is the second catcher the club has jettisoned this campaign after they traded Martin Maldonado to the Houston Astros in July.
