The Atlanta Braves are bolstering their bullpen mix with a seasoned postseason player.
One intriguing name was on the Atlanta Braves’ list of non-roster invitees to spring training, which was released.
And if everything goes according to plan, it might have a big effect on the 2024 season.
Reliever Ken Giles, formerly of the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros, has been signed by the Atlanta Braves to a minor league contract. An invitation to spring training is included with the signing.
The organization highlights Giles’ 2017 World Series championship with Houston in a press release announcing the non-roster invitees.
Over the course of eight MLB seasons, Giles has a 14–18 record, a 2.71 ERA, and 115 saves. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional strikeout and walk rates, with a 33.3% strikeout rate and a 7.8% walk rate, both exceeding MLB averages.
Giles, 33, is making an effort to recover from a series of arm injuries that have kept him off the major league field for just 4.1 innings since the 2020 campaign. In 2022, he will be back with Seattle. After undergoing Tommy John surgery, which kept him out of action for the majority of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he tried to get back to a full-time MLB role by playing in the minor leagues for the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Giles, whose fastball averages between 93 and 96 mph, worked out for prospective teams during the offseason at Terra Sports in Arizona. Atlanta apparently thought it was good enough to offer him a minor league contract. He is expected to earn $1.75 million if he is added to the MLB roster.
Aside from Alejo Lopez, a former infielder for the Cincinnati Reds, and Sebastian Rivero, a former catcher for the Kansas City Royals, other signings made public by this release are also invited to spring training.
