Braves bring back veteran arm after Spencer Strider injury

The Atlanta Braves moved to reinforce their pitching depth Monday night after Spencer Strider’s injury created a roster challenge for the club. Atlanta brought pitcher Carlos Carrasco back on a minor league contract, keeping a familiar veteran option available as the club works through rotation uncertainty.

The 39-year-old veteran returned alongside catcher Maverick Handley, who also rejoined the organization on a minor league deal. Both players had recently come off the 40-man roster, but the Braves chose to retain experienced depth rather than let either move elsewhere.

The veteran right-hander remains a logical fit for the Braves pitching plan. JR Ritchie recently moved into the starting rotation, creating a need for multi-inning relief coverage elsewhere on the staff.

MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco published a piece on the site detailing Carrasco and Handley’s return to the Braves on minor league contracts.

“The Braves have brought Carlos Carrasco and Maverick Handley back to the organization on minor league contracts, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Both players were dropped from the 40-man roster last week.”

Franco also explained why Carrasco’s quick return fit given his role throughout the season:

“Carrasco’s return felt inevitable, as he’s been on and off the roster all season. The only question was whether he’d sign a minor league contract or jump directly back onto the MLB roster after he elected free agency. Carrasco will probably be back up before long, especially after the Spencer Strider injury.”

The numbers support that outlook. The veteran right-hander has logged nine major league innings of three-run baseball this season. He also posted a 3.00 ERA across 30 innings with Triple-A Gwinnett while maintaining a strong strikeout-to-walk profile.

Atlanta enters the week with MLB’s best record at 46-25 and has Monday off before opening a three-game series vs. the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park. The Braves remain in control, but Strider’s injury forces them to protect the staff while trying to maintain their pace.