The calendar has officially flipped to February, and in a few weeks time we'll be lucky enough to watch spring training action. As that time nears GMs everywhere are looking for the final pieces to their roster puzzle.
For the Atlanta Braves, the need is clear to both the media and it's fanbase. Pitching, pitching, then more pitching. It can be debated whether or not the more pressing need lies within the Braves' bullpen or the rotation, but at the end of the day, the Braves need to bring in more talented arms. Plenty of free agents have spent the entire winter looking for the right deal. And while Anthopoulos surely hasn't crossed every name off his target list yet, a couple of names entering the fold recently isn't a bad thing either.
Recent DFA's could prove beneficial to Braves bullpen search
The first surprising DFA simply didn't have room to remain on the Dodgers superstar-filled roster. Ryan Braiser is a veteran right-handed pitcher who has spent his eight year career pitching between Boston and Los Angeles. He was phenomenal during his 38.2 innings with the Dodgers in 2023, posting a 0.70 ERA and 2.48 FIP.
However, last season Braiser was placed on the 60-day IL in April with a calf strain. He returned in mid August to throw 28 innings with a respectable 3.54 ERA and 3.31 FIP. Braiser relies on a heavy slider usage, really attacks hitters (just a 4.5 BB%), and generates a 34.8 chase percentage. The 37 year-old could be trending the wrong direction though, and a team as data driven as the Dodgers had to see something they didn't like. However, it's never a bad shot to give Braiser a spring training invite at the very least.
Sources: The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated reliever Ryan Brasier for assignment.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 31, 2025
The latter recent free agent Atlanta should be checking in on is Pedro Avila formerly of the Cleveland Guardians. Avila was a shocking DFA by Cleveland in late January, but went unclaimed likely because he was out of minor league options. Rather than accept an assignment to Triple-A, Avila elected for free agency on Thursday.
Avila was a workhorse last season out of the Guardians bullpen, pitching 74.2 innings for Cleveland in 2024. In total Avila posted a 3.81 ERA and 3.89 FIP during a career year. Outside of limiting barrels (87th percentile in barrel%) Avila didn't have the best batted ball profile in 2024.
He also didn't have the best command for a guy that doesn't really blow hitters away with his stuff. Avila carried a 10.2 BB% last season, and that concerning trend could be the reason why teams didn't jump on claiming him when he went on waivers.
However, adding either one of these right-handed pitchers would at the very least bulk up the competition for spring. Not every elite reliver is a player we have stamped on the Opening Day roster in early February. Braves fans know firsthand how an impact bullpen arm can appear out of thin air. Perhaps one of these recent DFA's are the 2025 version of one postseason hero Tyler Matzek. Well...probably not, but it doesn't hurt to at least see what they can do in spring training.