On this day, March 24, back in 2014, the Atlanta Braves made a free agent signing that would end up becoming one of the most impactful prior to that season, as the club signed veteran starting pitcher Aaron Harang to a one-year deal.
This day in Braves history: Atlanta signs veteran pitcher Aaron Harang
At the time, Harang, a right-handed pitcher, was coming off a down 2013 season that was among the single-worst of his 14-year MLB career.
In 2013, Harang was coming off a year in which he split time with the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets, a majority of which came with the AL West club. Making 26 combined starts, Harang owned a 5-12 record with a 5.40 ERA and 113:40 K:BB ratio across 143.1 IP, with his -0.9 WAR while in Seattle being among the lowest of his MLB career.
At the conclusion of that 2013 season, Harang would enter free agency, and went on to sign a minor league deal in February 2014 with the-then Cleveland Indians, which also included an invite to spring training.
However, Harang's time with Cleveland would be short-lived as he was released by the organization March 24, and signed a major league deal with the Braves on the same day.
Harang would go on to spend the entirety of the 2014 season in Atlanta, making 33 starts with the Braves that year. During that season, the right-hander owned a 12-12 record with a 3.57 ERA and 161:71 K:BB ratio across 204.1 IP, along with a 2.2 WAR for a Braves team that finished second in the NL East at 79-83 overall.
Electing free agency at seasons end, this would be Harang's lone season with the Braves, with the right-hander going on to pitch for one more year in the big leagues as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization in 2015.