Kyle Kubitza is back with the Braves. Manny Banuelos may be gone soon. What a turn of events.
Kubitza was a 4th round pick for Atlanta in 2011, and the 3rd baseman turned Outfielder was dealt to Los Angeles in exchange for Ricardo Sanchez. He was then traded to Texas for cash, and designated for assignment in June. Kyle was once one of Atlanta’s top prospects before Jon Hart’s overhaul of the farm. Over 6 years in the minors, he’s hit .263 with 43 HRs and 76 steals. Personally, I’m glad to have him back. Maybe a change of scenery will help him turn it around.
Now, on to ManBan. Banuelos has struggled with injuries, and his return in 2016 has been hard to watch. 0-5 with a 5.33 ERA over various levels of minor league baseball. I’d still make an attempt to trade him, or at least attempt to keep him in the organization until he can fully recover. Once the 10th best prospect in baseball, Banuelos has a long road back to the majors. I’d love to see a return from Manny, even if it’s a limited role in the bullpen.