With just over two weeks to go before Opening Day, the Atlanta Braves had 54 players in active big league camp going into Wednesday afternoon, meaning they still had 28 players to cut to get down to the 26-man limit.
After their game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Braves made four cuts, which included one reliever who was assumed to be a favorite to grab the final spot in the bullpen.
The #Braves today optioned LHP Hayden Harris to Triple-A Gwinnett and reassigned RHPs Carlos Carrasco, Elieser Hernández and James Karinchak to minor league camp. Atlanta now has 50 active players in camp.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 11, 2026
James Karinchak part of Braves latest roster cuts down at spring training
Although he hadn't pitched in the majors since 2023, the Braves signing of James Karinchak to a minor league deal this offseason looked like a low-risk, high reward get. If the righty could rediscover some of the magic that made him such a dominant reliever with the Cleveland Guardians from 2020-2023, he could be a steal.
Through his four spring training outings, it looked like he was well on track to make the Opening Day roster. He had allowed no runs and struck out nine, walking two.
However, the Braves must have seen something fans at home didn't. Instead of being on the Braves active roster on March 27, Atlanta decided to reassign him to minor league camp weeks before final decisions even needed to be made.
According to Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, the fact that the Braves play 13 straight games to begin the season might have influenced the team's decision to carry a long-reliever like Jose Suarez rather than a one-inning guy like Karinchak. Still, this decision being made so early is still surprising.
In addition to Karinchak, prospect Hayden Harris, as well as veterans Carlos Carrasco and Elieser Hernandez were cut from big league camp.
Harris, like Karinchak, had impressed this spring, but roster flexibility likely played the biggest role in his demotion, considering he still has options remaining. Hernandez had a 3.60 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP in his two outings, but he was always a long shot to make the team. Carrasco had a 12.79 ERA in three outings.
The Braves still have 24 roster decisions to go with question marks about the pitching staff still remaining, but for now, we know at least four pitchers who won't be making the Braves Opening Day roster.