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Braves Sign Taylor Widener To Minor League Deal

By Darragh McDonald | December 20, 2023 at 5:35pm CDT

The Braves have signed right-hander Taylor Widener to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The righty has been assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett for now but could perhaps be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee.

Widener, 29, was drafted by the Yankees but was sent to the Diamondbacks in the complex three-team deal involving Brandon Drury, Steven Souza Jr. and others. He went on to toss 107 2/3 innings for the Snakes from 2020 to 2022 with an earned run average of 4.26. He struck out 22.3% of batters faced but also gave out walks at an 11% clip. His .274 batting average on balls in play and 80.8% strand rate were both on the lucky side of average, leading to a 5.54 FIP and 4.68 SIERA that weren’t as impressive as his ERA.

He was outrighted by the Diamondbacks in January and ended up spending the most recent season in South Korea, pitching for two different clubs in the Korea Baseball Organization. He started with the NC Dinos but was released in August and then signed with the Samsung Lions. Between the two clubs, he tossed 115 innings over 20 starts and one relief appearance. He had a combined ERA of 4.54 in that time, striking out 20% of batters while walking 8.1% and keeping 60.4% of balls in play on the ground.

Widener was working exclusively out of the bullpen in 2022 but was mostly back in a starting gig in 2023. It’s unknown if Atlanta prefers him in one role or the other but they might like the flexibility. They signed reliever Reynaldo López this offseason and will reportedly stretch him out in the spring, with the plan of moving him back to the bullpen if he doesn’t win a rotation job.

The club currently projects to have a rotation of Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Charlie Morton and Bryce Elder, with López in the mix for a spot at the back alongside guys like AJ Smith-Shawver and Huascar Ynoa. Widener will give the club a non-roster option in that competition or perhaps in their relief mix. If he gets a roster spot at any point, he still has a couple of options remaining.

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Atlanta Braves Transactions Taylor Widener

White Sox Designate Luis Patiño For Assignment
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Diamondbacks, Ronaldo Hernandez Agree To Minor League Contract
View Comments (37)
Post a Comment

37 Comments

  1. Braves4410

    2 years ago

    Minor league depth or emergency BP that’s all… perhaps part of a trade package.

    1
    Reply
  2. braveshomer

    2 years ago

    Obvious step preceding the big acquisition of a legit Starter to help advance past the 1st round of the playoffs….Just reading the tea leaves people! Don’t shoot the messenger.

    1
    Reply
  3. TradeAcuna

    2 years ago

    Finally the starter they need to win 1 more game in the DS before losing in the DS for the 3rd straight season

    Reply
    • CantShadowBanFishersBlumpkins

      2 years ago

      You suck. Always have, always will.

      6
      Reply
      • braveshomer

        2 years ago

        please see me wager above..put your money where your mouth is

        1
        Reply
  4. EM41

    2 years ago

    Many people like to dismiss these types of moves, but it’s important to remember that the Braves used 32 pitchers in each of the last two years, and 50+ total players each year. All 26 spots on the active roster are important. All 40 spots on the 40 man roster are important. And minor league depth beyond the 40 man roster is important. injuries happen, trades happen, players become ineffective. You never know when a seemingly inconsequential signing like this can benefit the team in an unexpected way

    10
    Reply
    • Skruf

      2 years ago

      Right On! Agree 100%!

      1
      Reply
  5. MLB Top 100 Commenter

    2 years ago

    Atlanta ball club is already a lock for playoffs, they can wait until mid season to pickup a strong rental starter for the postseason

    Like this move for depth

    3
    Reply
    • braveshomer

      2 years ago

      like who?…who have the Braves picked up mid-season of substance recently?

      Reply
      • MLB Top 100 Commenter

        2 years ago

        Duvall, Pederson, Rosario, Soler and Raisel Iglesias

        9
        Reply
        • braveshomer

          2 years ago

          literally none of those are “rental starters” you mentioned lol

          Reply
      • NashvilleJeff

        2 years ago

        @braveshomer: Pierce Johnson.

        Reply
        • braveshomer

          2 years ago

          is Pierce Johnson a stater? I thought he was a bullpen guy from Colorado

          Reply
        • NashvilleJeff

          2 years ago

          You asked “who have the Braves picked up mid-season of substance recently?” You didn’t specify “starter.” Johnson was excellent after coming over from the Rockies.

          Reply
        • braveshomer

          2 years ago

          Gotcha, well I meant Starter in response to Manny saying they can trade for a Rental Starter….which has not happened in quite awhile. Sure they traded for a couple of bodies but not a difference maker starter, not even an above average Starter

          Reply
  6. Slow day at work

    2 years ago

    Braves FO: *signs minor league pitcher*

    Braves “fans”: How is this guy supposed to win us a World Series!!!!

    4
    Reply
    • braveshomer

      2 years ago

      Exactly!…your sarcasm simply parrots mine but with the same exact end results lol. So what’s the difference?!?!

      1
      Reply
  7. Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman

    2 years ago

    Just seen an article online that’s suggests Ian Anderson could be back mid season 2024.

    Reply
    • Slow day at work

      2 years ago

      That’s been the expected return timeline.

      Reply
    • LonnieB

      2 years ago

      Will he be middle of the pack Anderson or once in his life Anderson?

      Reply
  8. Braves Butt-Head

    2 years ago

    I’m getting impatient I want another big time starting pitcher already. We taking on all this dead money and these minor deals and nothing on the staring pitching front yet.

    Reply
    • EM41

      2 years ago

      Fortunately for you and all impatient fans, the Braves front office works every day at improving EVERY facet of the team.

      3
      Reply
    • Bucsfan4ever

      2 years ago

      The Braves are not going to get a big time starting pitcher this off season.

      1
      Reply
    • LonnieB

      2 years ago

      Braves will not make a big splash. Name the last time a big splash has happened? Riley is the largest contract we’ve ever signed and I would t call that number a big splash. They don’t do that. They make use of names people don’t know and develop guys from within then let them walk in free agency if they don’t sign early extensions.

      Reply
      • MLB Top 100 Commenter

        2 years ago

        Austin Riley and Matt Olson are a combined $370 million, those are big splashes for a mid-market team

        2
        Reply
  9. AL B DAMNED

    2 years ago

    Maybe AA has a deal with Yamamoto and is putting together a Double Secret Probation Baseball Team with minor leagers, PTBNL’s, to trade to the Orix Japanese Baseball team in lieu of the posting fee for Yamamoto! Yeah, that’s the ticket! Now it all makes sense! Genuis moves!

    1
    Reply
  10. getrealgone2

    2 years ago

    Aiken, SC’s own.

    1
    Reply
    • YEP

      2 years ago

      Pretty much coming home for him. I love him with the Gamecocks.

      1
      Reply
  11. braveshomer

    2 years ago

    I will wager a legit bet against any 2 other Commentors on here…RunDmC, SteelerBraveNation, TradeAcuna…etc. whoever will wager?

    Reply
    • braveshomer

      2 years ago

      I will bet $50 per x2 bets via CashApp that when Pitchers/Catchers report by February 15th, 2024…that the Braves won’t have Cease, Snell, Yomomato, Corbin, Beiber on their roster…nor will they have Fried extended by then.

      2
      Reply
    • MLB Top 100 Commenter

      2 years ago

      Spelled Yamamoto and I agree he will not be in Atlanta

      Reply
  12. deGrom/Langford Texas Ranger

    2 years ago

    He once was a man with dignity and grace (and potential), but now, he’s slipping through the cracks of MLB’s cold embrace.
    genius.com/Alec-benjamin-let-me-down-slowly-lyrics

    Reply
  13. rickoppelt

    2 years ago

    This is the most boring off season of all time!

    2
    Reply
    • MLB Top 100 Commenter

      2 years ago

      Ohtani, Soto, Nola, Lee, Yamamoto, Snell, Montgomery, Bellinger, Chapman, Hader, and Kershaw all disagree

      1
      Reply
  14. wvsteve

    2 years ago

    Slow day with FA news

    1
    Reply
  15. whirlybird

    2 years ago

    Whether Widener can widen the Braves’ division title streak remains to be seen

    Reply
  16. MLBUmpire

    2 years ago

    Widener?! I hardly know her!

    1
    Reply

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