5:14PM: The Braves announced the Chirinos claim, as well as two corresponding moves. Soroka was optioned to Triple-A, implying that Chirinos will be taking Soroka’s spot in the rotation. Atlanta also designated right-hander Seth Elledge for assignment, just a few days after Elledge’s contract was selected to the active roster. Elledge didn’t see any game action during his brief time in the majors before he sent back down to Triple-A yesterday.
3:42PM: The Braves have claimed right-hander Yonny Chirinos off waivers from the Rays. Chirinos was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay earlier this week.
After Tommy John surgery limited Chirinos to 18 1/3 total innings from 2020-22, he has seemed fully healthy in pitching 62 2/3 frames this year working in a variety of different capacities for the Rays. Chirinos has started four games, worked as a bulk pitcher (behind an opener) on multiple occasions, and also had a couple of traditional relief outings as a long man and mop-up man. He has a 4.02 ERA to show for his efforts, though his 5.34 SIERA is perhaps more reflective of Chirinos’ overall performance. The righty has benefited from a .244 BABIP and he isn’t missing many bats, with only an 11.8% strikeout rate.
These unfavorable secondary metrics could be why the Rays chose to DFA Chirinos, though for a team with as many pitching injuries as Tampa Bay, it still counted as something of an eyebrow-raising move. As MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald noted last Monday when Chirinos was put on waivers, service time could have been a factor, as Chirinos has surpassed five years of MLB service time and now cannot be optioned to the minors without his permission. This might have been a breaking point for a Rays team that often shuffles pitchers back and forth from Triple-A Durham — in fact, Chirinos himself was twice optioned earlier this season before he hit the five-year threshold.
Chirinos’ ability to work in several different roles would’ve made him a good fit on many clubs, but Atlanta is a particularly fitting landing spot given the Braves’ own pitching depth issues. The Braves could see Chirinos as something of a replacement for Kolby Allard, who sent on the 60-day IL earlier this week due to nerve inflammation in his left shoulder.
Allard is one of a whopping eight pitchers on Atlanta’s 60-day IL, including such prominent arms as Max Fried, Kyle Wright, Jesse Chavez, and Nick Anderson. Manager Brian Snitker said today that Fried might be one more rehab start away from returning to the active roster, but with so many other pitchers still out, Chirinos give the Braves flexibility. Atlanta could ease Fried or Wright back into action by teaming them with Chirinos in a piggyback capacity, or Chirinos might be paired with Michael Soroka to manage innings.
Overall, Chirinos is a pretty nice pickup for the Braves to make even before they delve into further moves prior to the trade deadline. There isn’t much financial cost (roughly $515K in remaining salary), and Chirinos is still controlled through the 2024 season via arbitration.
Always thought he was a ok pitcher.
Loved Yonny in TB. I think after the TJ and broken elbow his best days might be behind him. Happy trails, glad he went to a contender. Interested to see what Atlanta does with him
Nice pickup by the Braves.
How nice can it be, for them to be able to claim him on waivers? Virtually every other team had passed on him.
some teams could have been more interested in getting him after he cleared waivers because Braves took him on waivers they will pick up remaining salary instead of just paying him a pro rated part of the league min while Tampa paid the bulk of his salary. Either way we need pitching why not see if this guy has some left.
I hope he pitches more to his career numbers, could be a decent replacement for Morton next year at a cheaper price. Very least maybe an improvement for the #5 spot
I believe Braves will pick up Morton for next year.
I agree, sometimes dugout presence is invaluable.
Strong clubhouse and pencil in 30 starts., 200K’s, 3.5 -3.75 era–Charlie da Horse.
If Yonny sucks then sure, but if he comes in and pitches around a 3.50 Era and maxes at 3.5mil in are next season, that decision is a no Brainerd based on cost alone.
No chance if Morton wants to come back that the Braves won’t give him another 20 million. This isn’t the cheap Braves. And I have no faith this guy is anymore than a BP or spot start guy at best
If Yonny sucks then sure, but if he pitches to a 3.50ish Era and can be had for 3.5mil max in are next yr, then it becomes a no brainer decision.
If Charlie Morton wants to pick next year atlanta will pick that option up. Morton is very good pitcher when on and you can never have enough pitching.
I think Yonny is a bandaid until Fried is healthy. Once he is, then maybe he goes into the bullpen. Or they DFA him at some point. Obviously, unexpected success would change those choices.
@Hemlock: Think you’re probably right, but Soroka being optioned opens the door for Chirinos if your “unexpected success” scenario happens. Wondering if Soroka may end his season in Gwinnett w/out another callup. Am I crazy to think it’s possible the Braves non tender Soroka in the off season? Probably am…………….but…..?
Jeff,
It’s certainly possible. Soroka will be a tough call. I would consider a non-tender. Next off-season will be a very important time for the Braves. Max Fried becomes a free agent. Morton will probably retire. Everybody will be two (or so) years older.
My point is this is an important year. The Braves need to capitalize and stop with the bandaids. I have faith that a bigger move is coming. I hope so, at least. The bullpen is my area of concern. Lots of roles up in the air and many injuries.
Look at how the Braves extend TDA. They could have him with an option next year and extend TDA sometime next year. No they extend early because of how valuable he is. They extend and add an extra year of control to Morton when he isn’t having the best season last year because of the leg–Morton is valuable and has earned that 20 this year. I believe they will pick up the option or give Morton another extension like TDA. Yonny may be great for the Braves. It would take a good year plus to push out someone so entrenched as Morton. So maybe for 25 Yonny will possibly replace him but not in 24.
how do you figure everyone will be two years older next year? More likely they will all be 1 year older
Michael,
Two years (or so) <— IMPORTANT PART you left out
If I am 25 and my birthday is Aug 1, next off season I will be 27. Two years older. Yes, not two full years.
My point was that this season and next season—two years—will have passed.
Get it now?
if i am 25 and my birthday is may
i will still be 25 when next season starts
@Braves, hard to not root for Yommy. I just don’t see him pitching to the tune of a 3.50 ERA. If there was anything indicative of such I don’t think Rays would have moved on. They ve been hit hard with pitching injuries and are usually pretty shrewd with personnel decisions. The dip in his Ks is pretty significant and he’s gotten rather lucky in regards to BAbip. Just seems as tho he’s lost alot of zip in his arm.
They already picked up his option at $20 million with a team option for a year after I believe no buyout. Also same with Travis extended him $8 million with a team option for an extra year no buyout. Not bad I think I would have tried to give Morton $15 million he is still good eats innings and leader but not sure $20 is where he needs to be at and that extra money could go elsewhere.
I didn’t think Morton was still pitching. I thought he rode into the sunset after Tampa Bay and to find out he was with the Braves since 2021 and won a World Series with them. Good for Charlie and it looks like he is still pitching at a reasonable clip too. One of the most underrated pitchers of all time. He is crazy good and flies under the radar a lot. If CY Young wasn’t built on strike outs and 100 mph pitches, Morton would have a few CY Young awards. Good luck to him going forward. He’s got to be nearing retirement and able to collect a pension afterwards
Good, it’s always important to stockpile depth, Chirinos has been serviceable in the past too.
It’s a shame he’s too decent of a pitcher for Chaim Bloom to claim, that ERA needs to be a few runs higher!
I don’t get it either. The starting rotation is decimated by injuries. Seems he would’ve been an obvious waiver claim candidate for the Sox.
Since almost every team had to pass on him for the Braves to claim him, and every team could use pitching, maybe he’s not that good.
He might not be any good and the braves were acting out of sheer desperation because they have no options.
Or maybe, just maybe, Atlanta sees some untapped value in adding him to the roster. Atlanta has had a few successes before in players that no one else wanted to take a chance on.
Hernandez from the morning pitched well today
This has the potential to be a very underrated pickup for the Braves
Nice pick up. I was surprised to see him last until the Braves turn to pick him up.
Heeeeeere’s Yonny!
Atlanta loves them some Latin players
Ya like Olson Riley Murphy Strider Fried and on and on.
All speak Spanish so pretty much the same thing
Does Uncle Donny live rent free in your head DelraySteve?
I think this is a nice under the radar move for the Braves that can help them.
We’ve heard about Yonny, Norwith and Daysbet in the past day…my Scrabble bag runneth over…
This is why the Braves are the Braves. When I saw him DFAed I immediately thought he’d be a nice minor piece for them as an early-in-the-game long reliever or as a spot starter late in the season to save an arm. Three games at Gwinnett and then we’ll see.
shows how much depth this org has. even with 8 pitchers on the IL.
Most teams fold in the wind.
AA once again showing the rest of MLB why he is the best GM in the game
.
The idea that they are going to remove Elder from the rotation after 2 bad starts while plugging in a pitcher who hasn’t been particularly effective this year and has thrown 70 big league innings in 3 years is highly unlikely. More like spot starter depth
ESPECIALLY after Elder had a very solid outing today versus a good Brewers team. The comment about Elder being replaced just didn’t make a ton of sense to me.
Too bad Elder technically isn’t a ‘rookie’ this year. Could be the end of the Braves’ streak of having at least one player recieve ROY votes since 2018 startng with Acuna.
I guess the Cardinals valued Taylor Motter more than making this claim???
One man should never question another man’s Motter.
Yes, and he DID marry his high school sweetheart, Alma.
The rich keep getting richer !!!!!
Ok
I think “prominent arm” and Jesse Chavez is pretty generous
Were you thinking of the Angels version of him?
Nevermind, I was thinking of the Angels version of him
Did you think “prominent arm” for Jesse Chavez was pretty generous?
If I were the Braves. I would consider moving Soroka for a lotto ticket prospect if possible. He will likely be a non-tender this offseason and he MIGHT still have enough name recognition that some pitching desperate team could bite.
Mr Chirinos is going to do Jesse’s job, or what Tonkin has been doing, he can relieve for multiple innings like Tonkin, it’s a good move. I’m not giving up on Soroka just yet, and I hope to see Winans get another start at some stage, but maybe unlikely with Fried back soon.
This is a fine move. Very boring, but boring isn’t a bad thing
How do all those wild card candidates pass on Yonny & let crafty Braves benefit? Incredible… and those who say “but it’s only Yonny” give your head a shake. If Atlanta sees something then you know there’s something salvageable…