The Atlanta Braves and Carlos Carrasco have found a rhythm that doesn’t make much sense on paper but keeps working anyway. The veteran right-hander is back on a minor league contract with the team for the sixth time this season after being designated for assignment earlier in the week.
Here’s how this keeps happening. Carrasco got removed from the 40-man roster alongside JR Ritchie when the Braves needed spots for relievers Tyler Kinley and Ian Hamilton. He cleared waivers, elected free agency, and almost immediately signed another minor league deal. It’s a loop that’s repeated itself all year, and at this point it’s hard to call it a coincidence.
The weird roster loophole behind the revolving door
Because of Carrasco’s service time, the Braves can’t just send him to the minors without his permission. So they DFA him, he clears waivers, and then they bring him right back. It’s a bureaucratic dance that gives Atlanta access to an experienced arm whenever they need bullpen cover without committing to a permanent roster spot.
Carrasco has made seven appearances for the Braves this season. He’s thrown 14 2/3 innings with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. His strikeout rate is way down from where it used to be — 9.8 percent, which is below league average — but he’s only walked one batter all year. That 6:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio tells you what kind of pitcher he’s become at 39. Not dominant, but steady. Never beating himself.
His last four outings have all been at least 30 pitches. The Braves have mostly used him in low-leverage spots where the game is already decided, and he’s eaten innings without complaint. With the bullpen getting stretched thin lately, another call-up might not be far off.
What this says about the Braves’ approach
Atlanta is basically treating Carrasco like a depth piece you can summon from a vending machine. Need an arm for a day or two? DFA him, re-sign him, bring him up. It’s not glamorous, but it’s practical. The guy has made 264 career starts and knows how to get outs even when his stuff isn’t electric.
Carrasco clearly doesn’t mind the arrangement either. He could have looked for a team that would keep him on the big league roster full time, but instead he keeps coming back. Maybe he likes the organization. Maybe the money works out. Either way, this is probably not the last time we’ll see him switching between Atlanta and Gwinnett this season.
The Braves have a history of squeezing value out of veteran arms on creative deals. This is just the strangest version of it yet.
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