2026 Transactions: Braves Demote Nacho Alvarez, MiLB Signings

With four weeks left until Opening Day 2026, don’t expect a lot of cuts from Spring Training just yet. However, two teams, the Athletics and Braves, began the process of trimming down the MLB roster on February 28

Minor League signings

Aside from some of the more notable Minor League signings of the past week, here are a few that you might have missed over the last week:

• C Elias Diaz (Royals)
• OF Randal Grichuk (Yankees)
• RP Blake Weiman (Angels)

Randal Grichuk split last season between the Diamondbacks and the Royals. Kansas City acquired him last season for reliever Andrew Hoffmann but struggled after the move to the AL. Grichuk slashed .206/.267/.299 over 97 plate appearances.

Grichuk’s Minor League deal included an invite to 2026 Spring Training with the Yankees.

Speaking of the Royals, Elias Diaz joined the organization to provide depth alongside Carter Jensen and Salvador Perez. Diaz slashed .204/.270/.337 with nine home runs and 16 extra-base hits over 106 games for the Padres last season.

Weiman, now 30 years of age, was a good reliever prospect in the Pirates system before the 2020 season. However, he has since stalled in the higher levels of the Minor Leagues. He spent 2025 in Triple-A Sugar Land with the Astros organization.

Alvarez & Baez demoted

Just before the start of March, the first cuts were made among 40-man roster players. The Braves demoted infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. to Triple-A Gwinnett, while Athletics pitcher Henry Baez was sent to Double-A Midland.

Alvarez Jr. spent time at the MLB level both in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Most of his time was spent at third, filling in for an injured Austin Riley down the stretch. The 22-year-old emerged as a valuable infield prospect thanks in part to his ability to get on base. However, in limited Major League action, Alvarez Jr. slashed .216/.277/.298 over 240 plate appearances.

He went 2-12 in 2026 Grapefruit League action as of February 28.

Baez, meanwhile, was one of the prospects that the Athletics received in the package for Mason Miller in July. The right-hander, who has a mid-90s fastball and mid-80s slider in his arsenal, was one of the top groundball pitchers in the Double-A Texas League last season.

He struck out two over one inning in the Cactus League this spring.