The Braves made a move at the Winter Meetings!
And if you were ready for minor-league bullpen depth as the move to make, then it is your lucky day.
The Braves agreed to a minor-league contract with reliever James Karinchak on Monday night.
Karinchak was a reliever in Cleveland from 2019 to 2023, and put together some decent seasons. The thing that stands out the most is a massive 36.3% strikeout rate. While that also came with a high walk rate, Karinchak has produced a 3.61 xFIP and 2.2 fWAR in 160+ innings in his career.
The issue is that Karinchak threw his last major league pitch in 2023. Shoulder issues basically made 2024 a lost season for him, and he was in the minors with the White Sox for only half of 2025. As a result, it seems he is trying to find an opportunity where he can showcase his talents to perhaps get another shot at the majors.
This is simply a minor-league bullpen depth signing by the Braves. If they can help Karinchak discover his past form in Cleveland, then you certainly could have something of value. However, the most likely case is that Karinchak gets a Spring Training invite and serves as organizational depth for 2026.