The Atlanta Braves have signed 37-year old catcher Javier Lopez to a minor league contract. Lopez last played in the majors during the 2006 season with the Orioles and Red Sox. Lopez has now played in 1,503 games in his major league career and he is 1,527 for 5,319 (.287 avg, .828 OPS) with 674 runs scored, 260 homers and 864 RBIs. This was a nice move by the Braves to give a chance to Javy Lopez to revive his career as a backup.

The Braves have designated Willie Harris for assignment. Harris played in 117 games for the Braves last season and he was 93 for 344 (.270 avg, .741 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 2 homers, 32 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. Harris has now played in 486 games in his major league career and he is 307 for 1,243 (.247 avg, .639 OPS) with 194 runs scored, 7 homers, 85 RBIs and 72 stolen bases. Harris should have no problem finding a new job in the majors next season.

The Braves came to the Winter Meetings seeking a reserve infielder and a lefty reliever and they got them both from the Cubs for 22-year old righty reliever Jose Ascanio. The Braves received infielder Omar Infante and lefty reliever Will Ohman from the Cubs. Infante played in 66 games last season with the Tigers and he was 45 for 166 (.271 avg, .662 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 2 homers and 17 RBIs. He has now played in 494 career games and he is 403 for 1,592 (.253 avg, .684 OPS) with 192 runs scored, 32 homers, 154 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. The Braves will use him all over the infield and once in a while in center field. Ohman pitched in 56 games last season for the Cubs and he was 2-4 with 1 save, a 4.95 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. He has now worked in 220 career games and he is 6-8 with 1 save, a 4.33 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Look for the Braves to keep active in the trade market.

The Braves have designated righty Lance Cormier for assignment. This should come as no surprise due to how he pitched last season for the Braves. He pitched in 10 games (9 starts) for the Braves last season and he was 2-6 with a 7.09 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He has now pitched in 123 games (23 starts) in his major league career and he is 14-18 with a 5.98 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Don’t look for teams to be lining up to sign him.

The Braves have released reserve infielder Pete Orr. Orr had a poor 2006 season for the Braves as he was 13 for 65 (.200 avg, .450 OPS) with 11 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Orr has now played in 271 games in his major league career and he is 97 for 369 (.263 avg, .631 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 2 homers, 18 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Orr will probably get a chance with another team in 2008.