The Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays have hooked up for a trade that sends two players recently designated for assignment by the Braves to the Rays for everyone’s favorite cash considerations or the ever elusive player to be named later.
Going to the Rays are infielder Brett Wisely, who the Braves claimed off waivers last September from the Giants and left-handed pitcher Ken Waldichuk, who the Braves claimed last week of waivers from the Athletics of West Sacramento.
Wisely, 26, appeared in six games last year for Atlanta. A Florida native, he’ll return to his home state to try to snag a roster spot with the Rays, with whom he started his professional career. He debuted in 2023 and has appeared in 168 career big league games, appearing in every infield position and in the outfield.
Waldichuck, 28, has two years of MLB experience and would need to reduce his walk-rate to hold down a spot on a team’s staff but does bring 29 career starts across 42 games to the table for a Rays team who is known for extracting value from lesser-known pitchers.
As for the Braves return? Maybe it will be something. Maybe it won’t.
