Braves Looking for Playoff Moves

By Bill Shanks
Fox Sports South.com
August 28, 2010

There are two days left before rosters are frozen for the playoffs, which gives teams two more days to add players that would be eligible to play in October.

The Braves could still seek another utilityman before the deadline. It could be a versatile player that could, in effect, take the place of Omar Infante, who is now the starter at second base.

But something else to watch is the potential need for a third catcher. In the past manager Bobby Cox has had a third catcher on his playoff rosters.

Brian McCann is obviously entrenched as the starter, and David Ross is arguably the best backup catcher in the game.

However, if the Braves do want a third catcher for a potential postseason roster, they may have to look outside the organization.

Clint Sammons has been the de facto third catcher behind McCann and Ross the last two seasons when called upon. But Sammons has hit only .156 this season in Triple-A Gwinnett.

Atlanta could think about promoting J.C. Boscan, who is an outstanding defensive catcher. Boscan has hit .248 this season with five home runs and 21 RBI in 214 at bats. With the exception of two seasons, Boscan has been in the Atlanta organization since 1997. So they may reward the 30-year-old with a spot on the September roster.

Neither Sammons nor Boscan are on the Atlanta 40-man roster right now. The Braves are at 40, so if they or another player were added the team would have to take someone off the 40-man or place a player on the 60-day disabled list (perhaps Kris Medlen).

But if the Braves decide against Sammons or Boscan, they will try to see if a catcher has slipped past waivers and can be acquired before the Tuesday deadline.

Atlanta has made late season trades for backup catchers before. They got Damon Berryhill the last week of the 1991 season, and the Braves acquired Greg Myers twice actually (1997 and 1999).