Braves re-sign – Carlos Carrasco is back in the Atlanta Braves organization on another minor league contract, continuing a 2026 pattern sparked by his inability to be optioned without consent.
The Braves moved quickly the moment Carlos Carrasco became available again—bringing the veteran right-hander back to the organization on another minor league deal and extending a 2026 roster arrangement that’s become all too familiar.
Carrasco, 39, returned after electing free agency following his designation for assignment earlier in the week. The timing came right after Atlanta removed him from the roster on Wednesday, along with JR Ritchie, to make room for bullpen additions Tyler Kinley and Ian Hamilton.
After clearing waivers, Carrasco chose free agency before quickly agreeing to another minor league contract with Atlanta. It’s the sixth time this season that he has signed a minor league contract with the Braves after being designated for assignment.
That repeated loop is driven by a simple roster reality: Carrasco cannot be optioned to the minors without his consent due to his service time. So Atlanta keeps cycling through designation for assignment, watches him clear waivers, and then re-signs him. The practical effect is clear—Atlanta gets an experienced depth arm it can recall when bullpen coverage is needed. without creating longer-term roster complications.
On the field, Carrasco has continued to serve that role. He has made seven major league appearances for the Braves in 2026, covering 14 2/3 innings with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has struck out six batters and issued just one walk, giving him a 6:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 9.8% strikeout rate sits below both the league average and his previous career standards. but the walk totals have stayed low—something the Braves have leaned on in the innings he’s been asked to handle.
His recent usage has also pointed to why Atlanta values him as a plug-and-relief option. In each of his last four appearances. Carrasco has thrown at least 30 pitches. signaling durability and a willingness to grind through multi-inning stretches. The Braves have mostly placed him in low-leverage. mop-up situations. treating him as a dependable innings eater when the bullpen needed reinforcement. With the Braves’ bullpen workload heavy recently, another call-up could come sooner rather than later.
Carlos Carrasco Atlanta Braves minor league contract designation for assignment 2026 season Tyler Kinley Ian Hamilton JR Ritchie bullpen