Braves' Evan Phillips: Gets $35 million deal from Atlanta
Rotowire
Atlanta signed Phillips to a three-year, $35 million contract Thursday.
Phillips returned from Tommy John surgery to post a 3.46 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 33:6 K:BB over 26 regular-season innings for the Dodgers in 2026. The 32-year-old reliever has collected a 2.31 ERA, 29.8 percent strikeout rate and 6.4 percent walk rate since 2022, which was his first full season in Los Angeles. Phillips will likely open the 2027 season in a setup role ahead of closer Robert Suarez, though Phillips could wind up with some save chances if Suarez's elbow gives him trouble again. Suarez missed nearly the entire second half with inflammation in his pitching elbow, though he finished the year healthy.
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Braves' Tyler Freeman: Signs with Atlanta after back surgery
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Atlanta signed Freeman (back) to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Harding also reports that Freeman underwent back surgery in October but "feels great" and could be game-ready by the end of spring training. Freeman has dealt with back problems off and on each of the past two seasons, and it was part of the reason he played only 79 games for the Rockies in 2026. The 27-year-old sports a career .247/.323/.336 batting line over parts of five major-league seasons and has experience at every position other than catcher and pitcher. Once healthy, Freeman could be in the mix for a utility role in Atlanta.
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Braves' Jurickson Profar: Role in 2027 undecided
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Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Wednesday that the club hasn't "come to any conclusions" regarding the status of Profar (suspension) for 2027, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Profar was unavailable for the entire 2026 season as he served a 162-game suspension for his second positive PED test. He's entering the final year of a three-year, $42 million contract, though he's been paid only around $6 million of that because he didn't draw a salary while suspended. The switch-hitting Profar would theoretically be a fit on the roster as a short-side platoon, but Atlanta must make a determination whether a potential distraction he could cause is worth whatever production it thinks he can provide. Profar is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League and is slashing .315/.344/.426 with one home run and a 4:7 BB:K over 14 contests.
Braves' Spencer Strider: On track to be ready for ST
Rotowire
Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday that Strider (elbow) is on track to be ready for the beginning of spring training and the regular season, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Strider was limited to only eight outings in 2026 while battling oblique and elbow problems. He was shelved in mid-June with right elbow inflammation and wound up missing the remainder of the season with the injury. While Strider appears to currently be in a good spot physically, he will remain an injury risk in 2027. The righty hurler logged a 4.45 ERA in 2025 after coming back from internal brace surgery.
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Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Not expected for Opening Day
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Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday that it's unlikely Schwellenbach (elbow) will be ready by Opening Day next season, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Schwellenbach missed the entire 2026 season due to a pair of elbow surgeries, first in February to remove bone spurs and later in August to repair a fracture. Atlanta wants the right-hander to proceed more cautiously with his rehab this time around, which will mean a late start but hopefully gives him a better chance to hold up physically over the long haul. The last time we saw Schwellenbach pitching, he held a 3.09 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 108:18 K:BB through 110.2 innings for Atlanta in 2025.
Atlanta claimed Parker (elbow) off waivers from the Nationals on Monday.
Parker might not be ready to pitch again until 2028 after having elbow ligament repair surgery with an internal brace in late July. However, Atlanta felt the left-hander was worth a waiver claim as it looks to supplement its rotation depth. Parker will be eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason.
Brujan agreed to a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Saturday.
Brujan appeared in nine games for the Mets in 2026, going 1-for-11 with a walk, one RBI and four runs. He spent most of the campaign at Triple-A Syracuse, where he posted an .806 OPS with five homers and 16 steals in 65 contests. Brujan should serve as organizational depth for Atlanta and is likely to open 2027 at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Braves' Ethan Bagwell: Undergoes elbow surgery
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Bagwell underwent right elbow surgery recently, Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com reports.
The specifics of the procedure are unclear, but Crosby notes that Bagwell will likely miss the entirety of the 2027 season. Bagwell -- who turns 21 in February, posted a 3.17 ERA and 105:32 K:BB over 108 innings between Single-A Augusta and High-A Rome in 2026.
Atlanta exercised Acuna's $17 million club option for the 2027 season Thursday.
Acuna has been playing on one of the most team-friendly contracts in baseball since 2019, and although his .255/.345/.451 regular-season slash line was a bit of a step back from 2025, Atlanta has no interest in parting with their franchise superstar early. The 28-year-old missed nearly seven weeks in the middle of the summer due to a hamstring strain and dealt with knee soreness during the postseason, but assuming he comes back fully healthy in 2027, he will remain among the top tier of fantasy performers.
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Braves' Ozzie Albies: Atlanta exercises option
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Atlanta exercised Albies' $7 million club option for the 2027 season Thursday.
Albies finished the regular season with a career-low .237 batting average but still contributed 22 homers, 73 RBI and 85 runs while playing in every game for Atlanta. Unwilling to part with his reliability, the team will retain its longtime second baseman for his age-30 season, and he will likely remain in an everyday role while batting near the middle of the order.
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