The Atlanta Braves have signed pitcher David Carpenter to a minor-league deal, according to Scout.com’s Bill Shank. Carpenter spent 2015 with the Yankees and Nationals, though pitched just 24.2 innings and missed much of the season with shoulder surgery.
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The deal serves as somewhat of a homecoming for Carpenter, who had two successful campaigns with the Braves from 2013-2014. The best season of Carpenter’s career came in his first year in Atlanta, when he pitched to a 1.78 ERA with a 10.9 K/9 rate in 65.2 innings across 56 appearances. He gave up one run in eight appearances for the Nationals in 2015 before hitting the shelf.
Despite signing a minor-league pact, Carpenter will have every opportunity to earn a spot in a Braves bullpen that struggled heavily in 2015. Atlanta added Ian Krol in the trade that sent Cameron Maybin to Detroit, but currently stands to rely on Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Foltynewicz and Brandon Cuniff in the late innings to start 2016.
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It sounds like Carpenter won’t be the last addition to the Braves bullpen, as Atlanta has been connected to Darren O’Day and other relievers on the free agent market. Based on reports that the Braves are shopping players with significant salaries, one would think they would stay away from pricey relievers, though mid-tier options like David Hernandez, Casey Janssen and Ryan Webb could be stop-gap solutions while the club’s young relievers continue to develop.