The Atlanta Braves have swapped out reserve outfielders on their 40-man roster with the team announcing outfielder Michael Siani has been claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals while also sharing that outfielder Jake Fraley was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Siani, 26, debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022 but spent the last several seasons with the Cardinals. A defensive-first outfielder, who has played center field extensively, appeared in only 19 games in 2025 with the big league club but saw action in 124 games in 2024. He has a career 58 wRC+ in 160 games. He does have base-running value – rating in the 96th percentile in 2024 – while stealing 20 bases with the Cardinals.
Fraley, whom the Braves claimed off waivers from the Reds in mid-August last season, appeared in only nine games with Atlanta before being lost for the season with injury. Fraley,30, has a career 101 wRC+ in 468 career games. He was teammates with Siani with the Reds.
Fraley seemed like a boarder-line option to return to Atlanta in 2026 given offensive production that was near-league average with acceptable defense. He is arbitration eligible for the final time this off-season.
Siani could provide depth, should he stay on the 40-man roster, as a reserve outfielder and pinch-runner.
It has been a busy day for Atlanta, primarily clearing roster spots, now that the league is five days past the World Series.
