Just when we thought the Braves' bench was coming into focus, they add another wrinkle.
Atlanta signed center fielder Drew Stubbs to a minor league deal Wednesday and he'll be invited to the final three days of camp, giving the team a chance to decide whether he's worth keeping around to serve as a backup to Ender Inciarte.
Stubbs, 31, joins the Braves one day after they announced that Jeff Francoeur would have a spot on the 25-man roster, meaning another name is added to a list of bench options that includes fellow outfielders Emilio Bonifacio and Michael Bourn, catcher Tyler Flowers, infielder/outfielder Kelly Johnson and infielders Gordon Beckham.
Stubbs hit 22 homers for the Reds in his first full season in 2010, but is a career .244 hitter that is coming off a year in which he hit .195 with only five HRs with the Rockies and Rangers.
He was released by Texas this week after exercising an opt-out clause when it was clear that he wouldn't make the Opening Day roster.
With Beckham, Flowers, Francoeur and Johnson, they would appear to have one last bench spot that is down to Bonifacio, Bourn and Stubbs. Bonifacio is on a one-year, $1.25 million contract and Bourn is owned $14 million in the final year of his deal.
Monday, Atlanta released Nick Swisher, eating his $15 million salary and would be in a similar situation with Bonifacio and Bourn if they opted to keep Stubbs over either one.
Not needing a fifth starter until April 12, the Braves could expand the bench to six players, but it's unlikely they would continue with that setup after that date.
The Braves already had a viable option behind Inciarte in Bourn, who played 100 games in center last season. But Stubbs is two years younger and, would be a most cost-efficient option if Atlanta can move Bourn.
The 33-year-old veteran, though, been lauded for his ability to serve as a mentor to Minor League Player of the Year Mallex Smith (who will likely be called up to Atlanta in 2016), and if position versatility comes into play, Bonifacio can play outfield, second base and third, while the others are limited to the outfield.
The Braves will only get a glimpse of Stubbs in camp, but now that he's in the mix the race for what -- seemingly -- is one bench spot just got that much more interesting.
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook. His book, 'Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Braves Stories Ever Told,' comes out April 12, 2016., and 'The Heisman Trophy: The Story of an American Icon and Its Winners' will be released Nov. 1, 2016.
