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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Joe Jiménez #77 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the eighth inning of game two of a doubleheader against the New York Mets at Truist Park on September 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves are making many roster moves as spring training is very close to getting underway. On Tuesday night, the team made two roster news announcements via social media. Tuesday was the first day of pitchers and catchers reporting, so a lot of reporters received a handful of news. One piece of bad news is that Spencer Schwellenbach is starting the season on the 60-day IL.

Also on Tuesday, the Braves acquired Tampa Bay Rays‘ infielder Brett Wisely in a trade for cash considerations, and then subsequently placed pitcher Joe Jimenez on the 60-day IL with left articular cartilage injury. There’s still no timetable for his return. Atlanta traded away Brett Wisely to the Rays back on Jan. 12, and now finds his way back to Atlanta’s roster.

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Braves Acquire Brett Wisely; Send Joe Jimenez to IL

Joe Jimenez missed all of 2025 with an injury and will begin the 2026 season on the injured list. Once an All-Star in 2018 with the Tigers, Jimenez hasn’t pitched since 2024, but did boast a 2.62 ERA over 68.2 innings that season.

Brett Wisely has been a DFA limbo player this offseason, but given the Braves’ thin infield depth, he’s brought in as a body to fill a spot during spring training, and maybe he finds his way on the official roster if another Atlanta infielder goes down with injury.

GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Joe Jiménez #77 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the eighth inning of game two of a doubleheader against the New York Mets at Truist Park on September 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)

Wisely appeared in 4 games with the Braves last season, and did not record a hit. In 54 at-bats in 2025, he hit .185 with one home run.

The Braves have also already been dealt bad injury news on the infield before the season has even started. Ha-Seong Kim, who earned a one-year, $20 million deal this offseason, will miss 4-5 months with a hand injury. Atlanta brought in Jorge Mateo to help with depth, but it appears Ozzie Albies and Mauricio Dubon will be the everyday middle infield options.

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Other Braves Spring Training Notes

It’s been just one day of Braves spring camp, but there’s been no lack of news. Robert Suarez is a delayed arrival to camp due to visa issues, and presumably issues getting into the U.S.

Sean Murphy is likely going to start the season on the IL, so the Braves are bringing in Jonah Heim in on an MLB deal. He will likely back up Drake Baldwin at the catcher position.

And then the big news is Spencer Schwellenbach’s elbow inflammation. It was an elbow injury that shut Schwellenbach down last season, and now it will sideline him again to open up the year.

It will be interesting to see if Atlanta goes out and gets a veteran starter or another arm to add to camp after this tough news.

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