Atlanta Braves Sign Former All-Star

 The Atlanta Braves in recent years have been able to bring in out-of-favor players and get the best out of them. They'll be trying to do that again with former All-Star infielder/outfielder Garrett Cooper.

Free-agent first baseman Garrett Cooper in agreement with the Atlanta Braves on a minor-league contract, sources say. The deal includes an invite to spring training.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 12, 2025

The free agent Cooper has signed a minor-league contract with the Braves which includes an invite to spring training.

The National League East is a familiar landing spot for Cooper, who spent 5 1/2 years with the Miami Marlins, which culminated with an All-Star appearance in 2022. He was traded by the Fish the next season to the San Diego Padres on the heels of a 13-HR first half. But he has struggled to maintain major league relevance since then. 

After averaging an OPS+ of 110 with the Marlins, he has been unable to repeat that performance, bouncing from San Diego to the Chicago Cubs to the Boston Red Sox in the last season and a half. In 2024, in 116 plate appearances split between the Cubs and BoSox, Cooper batted just .206, hit just one home run and had an OPS+ of just 59—that's 41% worse than the average MLB hitter. 

However, while at Triple-A Norfolk last season, in 20 games, he posted a .914 OPS. The Braves see something, and we'll see if they can unlock the All-Star version of him. Cooper could potentially be a right-handed platoon partner for Jarred Kelenic in the Braves' outfield.

Photo: © Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images