Just as the calendar flipped to July, the Atlanta Braves announced they have acquired a pitcher from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations.
Immediately after being acquired, the Atlanta Braves added right-hander Silvino Bracho to their 40-man roster as required by rule. Just hours before, Boston had designated him for assignment.
That position on the 40-man might be fleeting… with a number of players expected to return from the 60-day injured list over the next month, Bracho would be a candidate for another DFA to create space for one of them… and over the years, that’s been a tactic of Alex Anthopoulos to cheaply create depth.
Bracho no longer has minor league options and is on the major league roster. He is now available to Brian Snitker for the series beginning tonight in Cincinnati.
The Atlanta #Braves today acquired RHP Silvino Bracho from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 1, 2022
RHP Silvino Bracho reported to Atlanta and will be active for tonight’s game. To make room on the active roster, the #Braves optioned RHP Jesús Cruz to Gwinnett.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 1, 2022
The Venezuelan-born 29-year-old (he turns 30 in less than 3 weeks) signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox on March 6, and was assigned to Boston’s Triple-A affiliate to begin the 2022 season.
With Boston’s Triple-A squad — the Worcester Red Sox — Bracho posted a 3.16 ERA while striking out 36 batters and walking four in 31 and a third innings pitched.
He was called up to the major leagues on June 28 after optioning pitcher Connor Seabold, but was then designated for assignment two days later. He did not pitch with Boston at that time.
Silvio Bracho is such an interesting pitcher to watch. Most of the time his delivery is super quick. Sometimes, though, he does stuff like this. pic.twitter.com/Dgwu2ERnER
— Katie Morrison (@KatieMo61) June 24, 2022
Silvino Bracho last saw consistent big league time during a stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2015-2018, where he appeared in 91 games and compiled a 4.67 ERA while striking out 93 and walking 33 in 88-2/3 innings.
In March of 2019, Bracho suffered a torn UCL that forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2019 season. After his successful surgery and recovery, he was able to log one more appearance with the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitching one inning of relief in a 2020 game against the Colorado Rockies.
After being with the Diamondbacks organization since being signed as a free agent in 2011, Bracho was outrighted off Arizona’s 40-man on October 27 of that year and elected free agency.
Bracho signed with the San Francisco Giants just over two weeks later, playing for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats for a full season.