Several roster moves could be on the horizon in the coming days, and they began with the Braves claiming Penn Murfee off waivers from the New York Mets. In a corresponding move, they have designated veteran starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos for assignment.
A 33rd round pick in the 2018, Murfee beat the odds and made his major-league debut last year with the Mariners, recording a 4-0 record with a 2.99 ERA out of the bullpen. The right-hander was even better to begin 2023 as well, posting a 1.29 ERA in 16 appearances.
However, Murfee’s year was cut short as he underwent Tommy John Surgery in late June. He’s unlikely to make it back before the end of the 2024 season, but he’s a good reliever. We’ll just have to see if the Braves can afford to hang onto him that long, or if they’ll need that 40-man roster spot before then.
Yonny Chirinos was claimed off waivers by the Braves from the Rays earlier this year. He occupied a spot in the starting rotation for a while, but eventually, his poor results led to him being placed on the IL. It was evident the Braves saw something in Chirinos they could fix, but with him potentially being owed $2 million in arbitration, they have decided to move on.
For Braves fans that got a front row seat to the Yonny Chirinos experience this year, I don’t think anybody is going to be too distraught about this move. The Braves have to make significant upgrades to their starting rotation, and it appears they are already attempting to do so, as Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported yesterday the Braves are considered “strong possibilities” for Aaron Nola and Sonny Gray.
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