Alex Anthopoulos just added another arm to the Triple-A bullpen by claiming RHP Ricky Vanasco off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. After some important injury updates on Tuesday, Anthopoulos is looking to add to the crop of bullpen arms Atlanta will need to get them through the final month of the regular season.
Vanasco appeared in just five games for Detroit this season, last pitching on May 28. Vanasco has a 12.19 ERA, 6.41 FIP, and -0.6 bWAR in 10.1 career innings. The majority of Vanasco's 2026 has been spent with Detroit's Triple-A affiliate, Toledo, where he has a 2.53 ERA and 11.5 K/9.
The #Braves today claimed RHP Ricky Vanasco off waivers from the Detroit Tigers and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 26, 2026
Braves claim Ricky Vanasco off waivers from Tigers to bolster organizational depth
Vanasco is a 27-year-old pitcher who has failed to stick at the Major League level since his 2024 debut as a member of the Dodgers organization. Vanasco offers a below league average fastball (93.7 mph on average), which he throws 51% of the time. The rest of Vanasco's repertoire is split between a changeup and a curveball, neither of which has yielded positive results.
This is uninspiring, but overall fine organizational depth move for Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Tigers are more than fine with losing Vanasco, especially after they claimed former Brave Tyler Kinley earlier this week. These two moves essentially ended up being a one-for-one swap, and one that will probably be forgotten by season's end.
Vanasco will get the chance to work with the Braves' pitching department, and just like any newcomer hopefully unlock something to help him produce better results. Hopefully Atlanta's bullpen remains healthy and effective down the stretch, and Atlanta never has to call upon Vanasco for any important innings.
The Braves do gain a roster spot on September 1, so the arrival of a Gwinnett reliever is surely a lock. Vanasco is a name that could be in line for the additional roster spot, depending on whether Atlanta chooses to add any more arms to the 40-man roster before the calendar flips to the final month of the regular season.
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