The Braves announced Thursday that they’ve claimed infielder Brett Wisely off waivers from the Giants and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. Lefty Aaron Bummer was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL in order to create space on the 40-man roster. San Francisco designated Wisely for assignment earlier in the week.
Wisely, 26, was a 15th-round pick by the Rays back in 2019. He landed with the Giants in a 2022 swap that sent outfield prospect Tristan Peters back to Tampa Bay. Neither player has made a huge impact with the team to which he was traded, but Wisely has spent far more time in the majors than the 25-year-old Peters, who made his MLB debut last month and went hitless in four games before being optioned back to Triple-A.
Wisely has logged major league time in each of the past three seasons, appearing in 164 games for the Giants. He’s tallied 457 plate appearances and posted a tepid .217/.263/.324 slash with seven homers, 22 doubles, a triple, five steals, a 25.2% strikeout rate and a 5.7% walk rate.
It’s clearly not an impressive batting line — wRC+ measures him 36% worse than a league-average offensive performer — but Wisely has provided the Giants with both versatile and skilled defensive play. He’s spent the bulk of his time at second base (682 innings) but also has ample experience at shortstop (269 innings) with cameos at third base and in center field. He’s graded out positively at every position he’s played in the eyes of both Defensive Runs Saved and Statcast’s Outs Above Average. And while Wisely isn’t a prolific thief on the basepaths, he does possess slightly above-average speed, sitting in the 55th percentile of big leaguers, per Statcast (and the 62nd percentile last year).
This is the last of three minor league option years for Wisely. He’s controllable all the way through 2030 but will have to stick on an Opening Day roster next season or else be designated for assignment and exposed to waivers prior to being sent to the minors. He’s far from a lock to last all the way into next year’s spring training on the 40-man roster with Atlanta, but if he does stick around that long, he’ll vie for a bench spot in what’s currently a wide-open competition.
The Braves claimed Ha-Seong Kim off waivers at the end of August, taking on the veteran shortstop’s $16MM player option in doing so. If Kim picks up that option, he’ll be the everyday shortstop in 2026. If not, Atlanta will enter the offseason with Nick Allen — a defensive standout but one of MLB’s lightest hitters — atop the depth chart at short. Atlanta would almost certainly be in the market for an upgrade, potentially pushing Allen into a bench role. Other candidates for reserve spots with the Braves would include Nacho Alvarez Jr. and former top prospect Vidal Brujan. Both Allen and Brujan are out of minor league options as well.
Suffice it to say, there’ll likely be a fair bit of turnover among that group, but for the time being, Wisely provides some depth at multiple positions and a versatile defender with slightly more bat than either Allen or Brujan can offer. In parts of four Triple-A seasons, Wisely is a .274/.371/.433 hitter.
Wisely is a nice utility player who should do well in Atlanta.
Giants should’ve put Dom Smith on the 60 day IL instead of DFA Wisely.
I think the 60-day DL was full with three others
Incorrect sir
mlb.com/glossary/injuries/60-day-injured-list
This isn’t a fantasy league
Long as they don’t claim him stupidly like they did with Ha-Seong Kim.
Kim is batting .327 for them currently, and he is an established major leaguer. You don’t have a clue
Except you’re forgetting the part where he has an opt-out at the end of the season, the Braves aren’t in the race and they are not allowed to QO him.
@Duran – You keep bringing up that point, but he’s barely played this year (will have played in ~50 games/season with possibly ~0.6 bWAR, if he continues at a similar rate) and they have a head start (better than anyone in free agency) to give him a taste of what it’d be like playing for the team, and he’s been a hit in the clubhouse with friend (and former SD teammate) Profar, something that he said he didn’t have in TB. ATL could make a good, short-term high-AAV offer that would guarantee him a starting SS spot on a competitive team for more guaranteed dollars than the 16M he’s due in 2026 (if he opts-in). No one is giving him 70M+ guaranteed or more.
Had they not picked him up on waivers they would have saved the 2M he was due in ’25…and would have Nick Allen trotting out there (possibly winning GG with Winn out…) with MLB’s worst bat…and they’d still need an upgrade in ’26 – like they would if Kim opts out — so it’d be the same situation minus 2M they’re paying for a headstart on courting him.
What’s the big deal?
@RunDMC The fact that they claimed him at all says that him declining the player option in favor of free agency isn’t unrealistic at all, regardless of any stats you throw out about his time with the Padres and Rays. And his performance since coming over to ATL makes it more likely, rather than less.
Getting a “head start of giving him a taste of what it is like playing for the team” has no value at all.
If they don’t claim Kim and have Nick Allen play out the string at SS in 2025 they miss the playoffs. So same outcome as in our timeline. And then they can either sign Kim as a FA if he opts out or get the Rays to eat $2-3m or attach a prospect in exchange for them taking him if he doesn’t opt out.
I’ll say it again. Whatever you (yes YOU specifically) want Kim to do with the player option is the opposite of what he will actually do.
No value at all…? LOL. If there was a team that was going to plop down nine figures, then sure, you’re right — ATL’s cup of coffee don’t matter. But, do you really think that’s happening? If he gets a sizable offer from NYY that wants to move on from Volpe, but doesn’t want Bichette – sure, that could be an option.
I (me, specifically) don’t care what he does. They’re in a better place than if they sat on their hands and we haven’t had to watch Nick Allen continue being a Grand Canyon in the 8-9 spot for Snit to plug in every night. If this is a bridge to Boras, then I’m fine with the 2M of not my money they spent, even if it’s for a month-long tenure. I haven’t put in my Kim Braves jersey order just yet.
Nick Allen is a urinal cake replacement.
@Smacky Well there’s a good chance he’s the Braves’ shortstop next year.
@RuDMC It’s not going to be the difference between him signing with the Braves and signing with someone else, all other things equal.
@Duran — Big what IF — they included a premium Edible Arrangement for both Ha-seong AND Boras?? None of that honeydew stuff either. Throw in an extra cream cheese dipper. Good has done.
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Yeah, the Kim pick-up was solid. Bad take.
How so? He has an opt-out at the end of the season, the Braves aren’t in the race and they are not allowed to QO him.
@Jarren: you said that, twice.
@bhambrave Because it was relevant, twice.
No, it was wrong twice. He doesn’t have an opt out. He has a player option. There’s a decent chance he exercises it. If he doesn’t, the Braves haven’t lost anything. They are back where they started.
@bhambrave Same thing
The good old “Asian player? He sucks!” sentiment on MLBTR comment sections… What is it with people like you?
yeah the worst is that othtani guy, totally overrated
Steinbrenner – Stop with the racial crap.
Yeah, that’s totally the problem here lmfao.
Contributes nothing to the conversation & encourages those who are cultist raciest maggots to jump in.
@Steinbrenner: Do you always like your own posts?
They have chosen…Wisely
Grasshopper approves.
Braves Wisely Claim Brett. There, I fixed it.
A bargain a day keeps last place away.
AA setting up for next season while most MLB GM’s are busy planning their post season island getaways.
Best GM in the game.
I think all GM’s should claim players wisely.
So this is now the first cost of prematurely elevating Eldridge to the 40.
What has he delivered so far? NOTHING !!
Additional cost will come either in terms of another organizational player that will have to be let go after the World Series or after the end of Spring Training 2026 or a free agent player who cannot be signed in the off season due to a lack of 40 man roster space. Foolish Roster Management..
Eldridge is getting valuable time in the majors at the very low cost of a great guy (Wisely) that is a AAAA player who was taking up a 40man spot on the Giants. This call-up does not effect Eldridge’s eligibility and is a great move even if he does produce much. You’re upset about losing a guy that in 3 yrs w/ the Giants (420 AB) is batting 217 with 7 bombs. and is behind Schmidt & Koss in INF and 6th OF behind Gilbert & McCray.. Additional costs should be Meckler.
I concur with the “Foolish Roster Management” assessment on Smith.
I interpret the move as a white flag on the season & shortsighted $$$
Wisely is a baseball brat who anyone would want to root for. He had his moments with Sf and I wish him well wherever he lands.
A FAR BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO CLAIMING BRETT FOOLISHLY
Never heard of Wisely but he is already an improvement over no hitting Luke Williams.
They’ve chosen Wisely