Braves Sign Taylor Widener To Minor League Deal.
The Atlanta Braves have recently secured the services of right-handed pitcher Taylor Widener, finalizing a minor league deal as indicated by the transactions tracker on MLB.com. Although presently assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett, there is speculation that he may join the major league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Widener, aged 29, initially entered the professional baseball scene through the New York Yankees’ draft, later becoming part of a complex three-team trade that involved players such as Brandon Drury and Steven Souza Jr., ultimately leading him to the Arizona Diamondbacks. His tenure with the Diamondbacks spanned from 2020 to 2022, amassing 107 2/3 innings with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.26. While demonstrating an impressive 22.3% strikeout rate, his 11% walk rate raised concerns. Additionally, his .274 batting average on balls in play and an 80.8% strand rate, though on the fortunate side, contributed to less impressive fielding-independent pitching (FIP) and skill-interactive ERA (SIERA) figures of 5.54 and 4.68, respectively.
Following his outright release by the Diamondbacks in January, Widener ventured to South Korea for the most recent season. He plied his trade for two clubs in the Korea Baseball Organization, starting with the NC Dinos before moving to the Samsung Lions in August. Across both teams, he delivered 115 innings in 20 starts and one relief appearance, accumulating a combined ERA of 4.54. Notably, he struck out 20% of batters, walked 8.1%, and maintained a 60.4% ground ball rate.
In the 2022 season, Widener exclusively pitched out of the bullpen, but in 2023, he primarily assumed a starting role. The Braves’ plans for his role remain uncertain, though the team may appreciate the flexibility given their recent signing of reliever Reynaldo López. López, initially slated for bullpen duties, could transition to a starting role during spring training. The Braves’ projected rotation includes Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and Bryce Elder, with López contending for a back-end spot alongside pitchers like AJ Smith-Shawver and Huascar Ynoa. Widener’s addition provides the Braves with a non-roster option for both starting and relief roles in the upcoming competition, and if he secures a roster spot, he still possesses a couple of remaining options.
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