The Atlanta Braves have officially inked relievers Penn Murfee and Jackson Stephens to one-year split contracts, signaling their return to the team’s 40-man roster. In a split deal, players receive varying compensation rates for time spent in the majors versus Triple-A. The signings come in the wake of an active non-tender deadline, leaving the Braves with seven vacant spots on their 40-man roster.
Both Murfee and Stephens had been removed from the roster in recent weeks. Murfee was initially let go by Atlanta at the non-tender deadline, while Stephens hit the open market after clearing outright waivers.
Murfee, a 29-year-old right-hander, was claimed off waivers by the Braves shortly before being released. Despite his limited major league experience, consisting of 80 games with the Mariners over the past two seasons, Murfee has showcased notable success, boasting a 2.70 ERA in 83 1/3 innings. His pitching repertoire, featuring a sweeping slider, has led to a significant strikeout rate of nearly 28%. Unfortunately, Murfee’s 2022 season was cut short due to a UCL tear in his elbow, requiring surgery. Although he’ll miss a substantial portion of the upcoming season, the Braves currently have roster space to accommodate him. If he remains on the roster throughout the offseason, the team could potentially place him on the 60-day injured list as needed from the start of Spring Training onward.
Stephens, also 29, has been part of the Braves organization for the past two seasons. In 2022, he recorded a 3.69 ERA in 53 2/3 innings during more extensive big league action. However, his playing time decreased in the following season, with only 12 MLB innings over five September appearances. Notably, Stephens demonstrated a strong performance with Triple-A Gwinnett, posting a 3.28 ERA with a commendable 26% strikeout rate across 24 2/3 innings.
Due to his lack of minor league options, Stephens must begin the upcoming season on the active roster or be subjected to waivers. If he successfully clears waivers, he would have the option to elect free agency, but with less than five years of service time, he would need to forfeit his guaranteed salary to do so. The Braves’ decision to sign him to a split contract enhances their chances of retaining him as non-roster depth, providing flexibility in the event they attempt to pass him through waivers in the future.
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