Braves re-sign free agent outfielder Eddie Rosario to a two-year, $18 million contract with a club option for the 2024 season, the team announced. Rosario will earn $9 million in each of the next two seasons. The Braves have not announced the value of the option for 2024, but The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that he is also worth $9 million without ransom. Rosario represents Roc Nation Sports.
Rosario, 30, joined the Braves midway through the season after a generally unproductive start to the season in Cleveland. The Twins’ longtime left fielder signed a one-year, $8 million contract there after Minnesota did not bid, but hit just .254/.296/.389 in 306 plate appearances before being placed on the injured list with a sprained abdominal cavities. The Braves bought Rosario knowing he would need extra time to improve, but it’s doubtful even their most optimistic forecasts could have foreseen what lay ahead.
Activated from a 10-day IL on August 27, Rosario exploded at .271/.330/.573 with 96 plate appearances in Atlanta. He hit seven home runs, four doubles and a couple of triples in that successful streak—an accomplishment alone that would have been worth the purchase. Rosario, however, moved that production into the postseason – at least for the National League championship series.
After three mostly indescribable games in the NLDS, Rosario stole the limelight again with a brilliant 14-for-25 record that included three home runs, a double, a triple and nine runs. After this show, Rosario became the MVP of the NLCS. was predetermined. His performance dried up during the World Series (5 of 22), but Rosario’s overall performance with the Braves and his post-season heroism led to a solid paycheck and what could be considered a day-to-day role in Atlanta.
The nature of the ups and downs of the 2021 season in Rosario has not been anomalous in nature. Throughout his major league career, he has been prone to sharp streaks of hot and pronounced cold streaks, thanks in part to a hyper-aggressive approach at the plate. Rosario has strong bat-to-ball skills, as evidenced by a strikeout rate of just 14.7% over the past three seasons. However, he also appeared in less than five percent of his major league matches, and over the past three seasons, he has ranked 13th in swing percentage in the game (55.8%) and 11th in chasing percentage (43). %). Rosario excels at making contact even on those pitches that aren’t true, but by chasing so often, he forgoes some opportunities to capitalize on his above-average strength by managing better pitches.
Defensively, Rosario is more like a mixed game. He has played all over the field but is best in corners where he has ample arm strength, resulting in some tasteless passing amounts, especially early in his tenure with the Twins. Defensive numbers have worsened in recent seasons due to his performance, but there is a huge gap between the most bullish and the most bearish estimates. For example, Defensive Runs Saved ranks Rosario at +2 in 2021, but Statcast’s “Above Average” rating puts him at -17, the worst rating of any Major League outfielder. Annual defensive scores can fluctuate wildly, but when looking at larger samples, each of the DRS, UZR, and OAA gives it negative scores since 2017.
None of this is to say that Rosario is a bad investment for the Braves, especially under these terms. His plate approach worked for him, as evidenced by a solid batting line of .275/.309/.473 (105 wRC+) and 133 home runs in 3,242 career plate appearances. In the past, he’s posted 27 home runs in one season (2017) and 32 (2019), so he has the potential to be an important source of strength for the Braves over the next few seasons. His overall offensive output is hampered a little by his frequent swings and lack of walks, but Rosario has generally been an above-average hitter that will be paired with Adam Duvall, Marcel Ozuna and being healthy Ronald Acuna Jr. in what should be a productive outfield/designated hitter carousel in Atlanta.