Braves' Carlos D. Rodriguez: Signs MLB deal with Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta signed Rodriguez to a one-year contract Friday.
Rodriguez had been a minor-league free agent but will get a spot on Atlanta's 40-man roster, although his salary is not guaranteed. Slated to turn 24 next month, Rodriguez slashed .284/.368/.374 with four home runs and 17 stolen bases between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville in the Brewers organization in 2024. He can handle all three outfield spots and will compete for a reserve role.
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Braves' Chris Sale: Recovered from back injury
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Sale said Wednesday that he is fully recovered from the back spasms that kept him off Atlanta's roster for the National League Wild Card Series, Lindsay Crosby of AthlonSports.com reports.
Sale made his last appearance of the season Sept. 19 because of the injury, but he had progressed enough that he was scheduled to start Game 3 of the NLDS, had Atlanta advanced. The left-hander is expected to have a normal offseason. Sale was named the 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner Wednesday after posting a 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 225:39 K:BB over 177.2 innings for Atlanta in 2024.
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Braves' Chris Sale: Takes home NL Cy Young Award
Rotowire
Sale was named the 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner Wednesday.
Sale finished in the top three for Cy Young Award voting twice (2014, 2017) during his 13 seasons in the American League. Now, after posting a 2.38 ERA and 1.01 WHIP alongside a 225:39 K:BB over 177.2 innings, the 35-year-old southpaw has finally taken home the trophy in his first season since shifting to the National League. He received 26 out of a possible 30 first-place votes.
Atlanta selected Munoz's contract from Double-A Mississippi on Monday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Munoz, 24, collected a 4.24 ERA and 75:22 K:BB over 51 innings between High-A Rome and Mississippi in 2024. The right-handed reliever is now on the 40-man roster and protected from the Rule 5 Draft.
Braves' Charles Leblanc: Signs minors deal with Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta signed Leblanc to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Leblanc, 28, is a career .254/.330/.412 hitter over parts of two big-league seasons. He will provide Atlanta with some infield depth.
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Braves' Yohel Pozo: Links up with Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta signed Pozo to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Pozo's lone action in the big leagues came in 2021, but he's been raking at the Triple-A level since then, most recently slashing .324/.335/.538 with 15 home runs over 90 games with Las Vegas in the Athletics organization. Atlanta has an opening at backup catcher following the departure of Travis d'Arnaud, although Chadwick Tromp has a leg up for that job.
Paredes agreed to a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Paredes returned to the big leagues in 2024 after spending the entire 2023 campaign at Triple-A. He made stops with the Cubs and Brewers, posting a 1.66 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with a 16:10 K:BB over 18 regular-season relief appearances (21.2 innings). Paredes will get the opportunity to make the Opening Day roster with his new club, who is looking for bullpen help following the news that Joe Jimenez is out for the next 8-to-12 months while recovering from knee surgery.
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Braves' Nick Allen: Traded to Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta acquired Allen from the Athletics on Monday in exchange for Jared Johnson.
Allen, 26, has managed just a .209/.254/.283 batting line over parts of three seasons at the major-league level. He does have a reputation as a solid glove at shortstop, although he came in at negative-2 Outs Above Average during his 41 games with the Athletics in 2024. Allen offers an alternative at shortstop to Orlando Arcia, who is coming off a disappointing season, but ultimately Allen should be more of a depth option.
Braves' Spencer Strider: Not expected by Opening Day
Rotowire
Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday it's unlikely Strider (elbow) will be ready for Opening Day, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The revelation isn't altogether surprising, as Anthopoulos indicated last month that while Opening Day was possible for Strider, the pitcher's season debut might not come until early June. Any timeline at this point is approximate, with more clarity likely to come by spring training. Strider is working his way back from an internal brace procedure he underwent in mid-April.
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Braves' Ronald Acuna: Unlikely to be ready Opening Day
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Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday it appears unlikely Acuna (knee) will be ready for Opening Day, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Anthopoulos indicated last month that Acuna's readiness for Opening Day was in question, and now it appears things are trending toward a stint on the injured list as the outfielder continues his recovery from left ACL surgery. A timetable for Acuna's season debut remains vague, although Anthopoulos previously suggested it could come as late as early June. A more definitive timeline for Acuna might be available by spring training.
