Joey Wentz started 2025 with the Pirates, moved to Minnesota when the Twins claimed him off waivers on June 11, but they released him a month later, allowing the Atlanta Braves claim him off waivers. The Braves didn’t know what to expect when they brought Wentz back to Atlanta. The club drafted him as a starter, but after posting a 6.90 ERA in that role for Detroit in 2022, he spent the next two and a half seasons working from the pen.
Wentz gave the Braves three clean innings from the pen in his first appearance for Atlanta, and based on that outing, the Braves gave him the first of his 13 starts a week later. He threw at least five innings in 10 of those starts and ended his Braves season with a 3-6 record in 61 IP, 58 strikeouts, and 22 walks, while pitching to a 5.16 ERA, 3.59 FIP, and 1.475 WHIP.
Breaking down whether the Braves have room on their roster for Joey Wentz in 2026
There’s no easy answer to how Wentz fits into the roster next season. The Braves are trying to add a veteran starter because we’ve just seen what happens when you don’t have depth, and veterans are generally better choices than prospects for that role.
Pitchers Hoping There’s an Empty Chair When the Music Stops
The Braves have six pitchers without options looking for one of three vacancies: Joel Payamps (R), Joey Wentz (L), Bryce Elder (R), Grant Holmes (R), George Soriano, and Ian Hamilton (non-guaranteed contract) (R) to fill the remaining three slots.
As of today, the projected rotation includes Chris Sale (L), Spencer Strider (R), Spencer Schwellenbach (R), Reynaldo Lopez (R), Hurston Waldrep (R), and a starter to be named later, penciled in as their rotation.
Fangraphs has Wentz penciled in as a starter and puts Elder on the AAA list, but they could just as easily have put Elder in that slot. If Lopez or Schwellenbach aren’t ready to return as a starter, Wentz or Elder could grab the job; advantage to the lefty, Wentz.
The bullpen will include Raisel Iglesias (CL) (R), Robert Suarez (R), Dylan Lee (L), Tyler Kinley (R), and Aaron Bummer (L) as the core, leaving three slots vacant. Pick your favorite three from the list, and you’ll be as close as anyone right now.
That’s a Wrap
Spring training is just a few days away, which means the Braves will grab the best pitcher they can get who isn’t willing to wait any longer. I wrote a couple of weeks ago that Chris Bassitt looks like the best fit for a Charlie Morton deal of something like two years and $36M, and that’s still true today.
They could give Justin Verlander a call and offer a year at $20M with an option, or see if Max Scherzer wanted to prove he could still pitch. None of that will affect Joey Wentz. I believe he’ll start the season with Atlanta, but I doubt he ends the year there.