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For the rest of the month or so, Roger Clemens is back to being the oldest active player in MLB. As of this writing, Clemens (6-4, 44k, 4.04 ERA) is beating his old team, Toronto, 3-0 in the third inning.

August 1: Braves drop Franco but want him back

August 7: Franco assigned to Class A Rome: Veteran could return to Braves for postseason

If the Braves make it to the postseason, there’s a good chance they’ll have Julio Franco on the roster when they get there.

The 48-year-old first baseman cleared waivers Monday and accepted a minor league assignment with Class A Rome, with an understood agreement that the Braves will bring him back to the majors Sept. 1 when rosters are expanded.

That would make him eligible for the postseason roster, and Franco’s experience, defensive skills and pinch-hit ability would surely make him a more likely playoff roster choice than rookie Scott Thorman.

“He deserves it,” manager Bobby Cox said of Franco, the oldest player in the majors and a popular team member in two stints with the Braves. “I mean, he hit the ball like crazy with us.”

Franco signed with the Braves on July 18 after being released by the New York Mets. He hit .250 with three doubles and seven RBIs in 11 games with Atlanta before being designated for assignment a day after the Braves acquired star first baseman Mark Teixeira in a July 31 trade with Texas.

Franco hit .333 (8-for-24) with three doubles and five RBIs in his last seven games before being dropped from the major league roster. The Braves figured he was more likely to get through waivers unclaimed than Thorman, who’s 23 years younger with raw power.

The plan for Franco is for him to report later this week to Rome and play at least a few games a week in August to stay in shape before returning to the major league roster. Cox said Franco might also play some for Class A Myrtle Beach, if he decides to take his family to the coast for a few days.

“If he just plays three or four games every eight games, that’s plenty,” Cox said.

The Braves also made a roster move Tuesday, calling up infielder Martin Prado from Class AAA Richmond and sending reliever Joey Devine down to Richmond.

See also:

• GeezerWatch: Julioyoyoyo Franco
• GeezerWatch: Rocket Man Roger Clemens - Now the Oldest Active MLB Baseball Player
• Baseball Mortality Stats
• Roger Clemens, Rickey Henderson… and Jesse Orosco
• Thank God for Jesse Orosco — 2007 Edition

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