"Pete Alonso is on the verge of this lol"; "Matt Olson is good as gone" - MLB fans buzz as Garrett Cooper signs minor-league deal with Braves

First baseman Garrett Cooper has signed a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves, insider Robert Murray reported. The deal includes an invitation to spring training.

Cooper played 36 games last season between the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox. Now, a free agent, Cooper agreed to join his fifth team in three years.

The deal was met with mixed reactions from fans, especially those looking to poke fun at the signing.

Here’s a look at what these fans had to say:

“Pete Alonso is on the verge of this lol,” a fan opined.

“Matt Olson is good as gone,” this fan chimed in.

“BREAKING: The Braves give up,” another fan weighed in.

However, not all fans poked fun at the Braves’ signing. Some fans seemed genuinely enthusiastic about Garrett Cooper going to Atlanta.

Let’s see what these fans had to say:

“Coop can be real solid,” this fan remarked.

“He can hit when healthy,” a fan commented on X.

“I’ll take the cheap depth, all day,” another fan posted on social media.

While Cooper isn’t expected to become an everyday player, he could fill an important role on the Braves’ bench, providing crucial at-bats and playing when regulars need time off.

It remains to be seen if Cooper can play well enough to make the team out of spring training. Otherwise, Cooper could start the season in the minors and be on the list of call-ups when needed.

Looking at how Garrett Cooper fits into the Braves lineup

Garrett Cooper is predominantly a first baseman/DH-type player. As such, his most valuable asset is his bat.

With Matt Olson slated at first and Marcell Ozuna the primary DH, Cooper may find his playing time limited in Atlanta.

Nevertheless, Cooper does provide some power as he hit 15 home runs in 107 games for the Miami Marlins in 2019 and then hit 17 in 2023 while splitting time between the Marlins and San Diego Padres.

Thus, Atlanta could expect Cooper to deliver 10+ homers playing a part-time role at first and DH. That type of power from the bench can be useful, especially when injuries become an issue.

The downside to Cooper’s game is his lack of positional flexibility. With Olson and Ozuna getting the lion’s share of playing time at first and DH, respectively, Cooper may find it hard to get into the lineup regularly.

Still, the Braves did well in signing Cooper. If he can stay healthy, Cooper could provide a cheap, but solid, bat. Considering he’s coming off a down year last season, Cooper will head into spring training with plenty to prove.

So, Atlanta stands to benefit from a player motivated to prove he belongs in the Majors. 2025 will hopefully become a bounce-back year for the newly-signed Braves infielder.