The Angels are reportedly buying infielder Luis Guillorme from the Braves, in keeping with Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. The return headed to Atlanta isn’t presently identified.
Guillorme, 29, was non-tendered by the Mets again in November however signed with the Braves in early January on a one-year, $1.1MM deal. A tenth-round choose by New York within the 2013 draft, Guillorme made his huge league debut in 2018 however didn’t obtain important enjoying time till the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Whereas he had struggled to a .227/.303/.297 slash line in 80 video games over his first two seasons within the huge leagues, 2020 noticed Guillorme seem in 29 of the membership’s 60 contests whereas slashing an unbelievable .333/.426/.439, good for a wRC+ of 145.
Spectacular as that efficiency within the shortened marketing campaign was, it was inflated by a .463 BABIP that might be fully unsustainable over a full season. Even so, Guillorme started to see extra frequent use by the Mets within the seasons following his robust efficiency in 2020. With that enhance in enjoying time got here improved outcomes; Guillorme slashed a serviceable .265/.374/.311 (97 wRC+) in 69 video games in the course of the 2021 marketing campaign, and in 335 plate appearances the next yr he hit .273/.351/.340 (104 wRC+).
Total, that trio of campaigns noticed Guillorme put up manufacturing that was 7% higher than league common off the bench whereas hanging out simply 15.4% of the time and strolling at a superb 12.4% clip. Guillorme’s general offensive efficiency was capped by an excessive lack of energy that noticed him hit simply 3 dwelling runs in 559 journeys to the plate from 2020-22. Nonetheless, the infielder managed to make up for that not solely via robust plate self-discipline but in addition wonderful glove work; these years noticed Guillorme put up a formidable +10 Outs Above Common in restricted enjoying time whereas shuffling between second base, third base, and shortstop.
Whereas his mixture of contact, on-base capability, and versatile infield protection made Guillorme one of many higher bench bats within the league over that three yr stretch, the 2023 marketing campaign noticed him regress considerably. In 120 journeys to the plate throughout 53 video games, Guillorme slashed simply .224/.388/.327 (70 wRC+) with a lot weaker peripherals than his earlier seasons. His 23.3% strikeout price was practically a ten-point leap from the place it had been the earlier yr, whereas his 8.3% stroll price was the worst of his profession. Making issues worse was a regression in Guillorme’s fielding that noticed him go from a clearly above-average defender across the infield to under common at each spot he performed. The infielder generated -4 Outs Above Common in 2023, together with a minimum of a -1 determine at every of his three positions.
That tough 2023 season is what led the Mets to non-tender Guillorme again in November, permitting the Braves so as to add him to their bench combine. Sadly for Guillorme, nevertheless, he’s been restricted to simply 9 video games this season and his .150/.190/.250 slash line in that restricted enjoying time hardly made a case for a bigger function in Atlanta. With Luke Williams presently occupying a spot on the bench and non-roster veterans comparable to David Fletcher and Leury Garcia in a position to step into Guillorme’s utility function, it’s unlikely the Braves will likely be impacted too considerably by his departure.
With that being stated, it’s attainable the 29-year-old will obtain extra runway to re-establish himself in Anaheim. The membership’s infield has struggled to remain wholesome this yr with Anthony Rendon, Michael Stefanic, and Miguel Sano all presently on the injured listing. In the meantime, Luis Rengifo has been out for practically per week as a result of sickness and Brandon Drury could possibly be headed to the injured listing within the coming days himself after exiting yesterday’s recreation within the sixth inning as a result of hamstring tightness.
Cole Tucker and Ehire Adrianza are presently filling in on the infield alongside shortstop Zack Neto, however Tucker has routinely struggled on the huge league stage all through his profession and Adrianza sports activities a .165/.248/.218 slash line within the majors over the previous three seasons. Given these restricted choices, it seems probably that Guillorme can have loads of alternatives to earn a bigger function in Anaheim than he had in Atlanta over the approaching weeks. If he manages to bounce again to the shape he confirmed from 2020-22, the Angels can have discovered a stable in-season addition to their infield combine who might stay invaluable even as soon as the membership’s infield regulars start to get wholesome.
