After another wild outing, Jaime designated
In corresponding move, Braves purchase contract of reliever Marimon
ATLANTA -- After proving patient enough to place Juan Jaime on their Opening Day roster, the Braves did not wait long to react to the eighth-inning woes the erratic reliever experienced during Sunday afternoon's loss to the Mets.
Before Monday's series opener against the Marlins, the Braves announced they had designated Jaime for assignment and filled his bullpen spot by purchasing right-handed reliever Sugar Ray Marimon's contract from the Triple-A Gwinnett roster.
"It's not like it's a short sample [in regard to Jaime]," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "It's not like it's one outing or two outings. I don't want guys to think if you have a bad outing, you're getting shipped out to Gwinnett or wherever. This has been long-term."
When Jaime issued consecutive walks to begin Sunday's decisive eighth inning, he showed why the Braves were so hesitant to put his electric and unreliable arm in their bullpen. The 26-year-old reliever has walked 19.2 percent of the 255 batters he has faced while pitching for Atlanta and Gwinnett since the start of last year.
There is a chance another organization will now claim Jaime off waivers with the hope of harnessing his strong right arm. But if he is not claimed, the Braves will send him to Gwinnett with the hope that he eventually finds the command that has eluded him throughout his professional career.
Gonzalez said Marimon will be utilized in the long-relief role that Cody Martin was targeted to fill before Martin spent this past week giving the Braves confidence in his ability to serve as a middle reliever who can bridge the gap toward the bullpen's three experienced relievers -- Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson and Jason Grilli.
Marimon received his unusual first name because his father was a fan of former boxer Sugar Ray Leonard. The 26-year-old reliever posted a 3.56 ERA while making 15 starts for the Royals' Triple-A affiliate in Omaha, Neb., last year.
Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran and Marimon grew up together in Cartegena, Colombia. Their fathers are first cousins.