Braves Shake Up Bullpen with Late-Night Angel Perdomo Trade
As the Atlanta Braves entered spring training, one of their biggest uncertainties was the bullpen. To address this, they brought in multiple relievers on minor-league deals and had pitchers like Angel Perdomo, who spent all of 2024 on the 60-day IL, competing for a roster spot.
However, with most non-roster invitees now reassigned to minor league camp, the Braves made a surprising move trading Perdomo to the Los Angeles Angels for either a player to be named later or cash considerations.
The Reason Behind the Trade
While sending a pitcher named Angel to the Angels has a poetic ring to it, the move was unexpected. Standing at 6-foot-8, Perdomo had shown flashes of dominance, boasting an impressive 35.8% strikeout rate across 48.2 MLB innings. Though his spring performance wasn’t overwhelming just six strikeouts in 30 batters faced he still managed a solid 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings, aided by a low BABIP.
The biggest factor in his departure? A lack of minor league options. At 31, Perdomo needed to either make the 26-man roster or be designated for assignment, forcing the Braves to either keep him or trade him. They chose the latter.
What’s Next for the Braves’ Bullpen?
This move raises more questions than answers about Atlanta’s bullpen plans. Despite losing Joe Jiménez to a knee injury, the Braves have yet to bring in a free-agent reliever to fill the void. With options like David Robertson still on the market and the potential for additional trades, this could signal bigger moves ahead.
General Manager Alex Anthopoulos had hinted at a payroll increase this offseason, yet the Braves’ current payroll sits roughly $30 million lower than where it ended last season. While moving Perdomo won’t significantly shift that number, it does highlight uncertainty regarding the team’s bullpen strategy.
Could this trade clear the way for AJ Smith-Shawver to step into a swingman role, much like Spencer Strider did in 2022? Or is Atlanta eyeing a last-minute bullpen addition from another team’s camp? One thing’s for sure the Braves’ bullpen picture is still evolving, and more surprises could be on the horizon.
