The Braves continue to prioritize depth and financial flexibility this offseason with their latest free-agent signing.
After declining Travis d’Arnaud’s option, trading Jorge Soler, and restructuring the contracts of Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez, the team has freed up significant payroll. Yet, general manager Alex Anthopoulos has remained frugal, focusing on minor league contracts with spring training invitations. The trend persists with the signing of reliever Enyel De Los Santos, as reported by MLB Trade Rumors.
De Los Santos, who debuted with the Phillies and Pirates, struggled early in his career. However, he turned a corner with the Guardians in 2022, posting a 3.04 ERA and 2.98 SIERA. Despite stepping into a higher-leverage role in 2023, his performance dipped slightly, finishing with a 3.29 ERA and 4.06 SIERA.
Last offseason, De Los Santos was traded to the Padres for Scott Barlow in a deal that proved unfruitful for both sides. The Guardians released Barlow, while De Los Santos bounced between the Padres, Yankees, and White Sox, posting a 5.20 ERA across 64 innings but showing promise with a 3.86 SIERA.
At just 29 years old and largely injury-free, De Los Santos offers potential upside. Over the 2022-2023 seasons, he logged 119 innings with a 3.18 ERA and 3.57 SIERA. If he can recapture that form, he could become a valuable under-the-radar acquisition for the Braves.
While there’s no guarantee he’ll regain his previous success, the minor league deal minimizes risk for Atlanta, aligning with their cost-effective approach this offseason.
