Atlanta Braves claim reliever Chase Whitley

According to Mark Feinsand (Twitter link), the Atlanta Braves claimed reliever Chase Whitely for the Rays this afternoon.

Alex Anthopoulus continues to shift small pieces around the Atlanta Braves roster. After yesterday’s trade of Jim Johnson and agreeing a contract with Rex Brothers he looked to the waiver wire for Whitely

Atlanta Braves bullpen options grow

The Yankees selected Chase Whitley in the 15th round of the 2010 draft. He made his major league debut in pinstripes in May of 2014. He appeared in 24 games that season starting 12 and throwing 75 1/3 innings, finishing with a 5.23 ERA, 4.14 FIP and 1.480 WHIP.

He began 2015 racking up round trip miles between Scranton and the Bronx appearing in four major league games before having TJ surgery on May 19th.  The  Rays claimed him off waivers that November.

More from Tomahawk Take

• Atlanta Braves 2012 Prospect Review: Joey Terdoslavich
• Braves News: Braves sign Fuentes, Andruw’s HOF candidacy, more
• The Weakest Braves Homers Since 2015
• Atlanta Braves Sign Joshua Fuentes to Minor League Deal
• Braves News: New Year’s Eve comes with several questions about the 2023 Braves

Whitley returned to major league action 13 months after his surgery and made six appearances before the season ended. He toed the rubber in 41 games out of the pen this season posting a 4.08 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 4.26 DRA and 1.48 WHIP.

That’s not a bad line in the AL East but Whitely was arb eligible for the first time this year and an MLBTR estimate had him set to earn $1M so the frugal Rays placed him on waivers.

What to expect

Brooks Baseball shows Whitely relying on a 90 mph four seam fastball a low 80s change and a slider  around that mark,  He may break out a curve now and then and mix is a sinker as well. They describe his pitches like this.

"His fourseam fastball has good “rising” action. . .below average (velocity) and . . .less natural movement than typical. His change . . . (has) few remarkable qualities. . .(as does his slider. . ."

Here’s Whitley recording his first save.

His stuff is the antithesis of the power pitchers we have at the back of the pen now.  In spite of his “unremarkable” pitches however, Whitely gets batters out.  That’s something the Braves bullpen can use.

That’s A Wrap

The Braves bullpen needed help and Whitley looks like a solid if not exciting piece. I suspect we’ll see more small moves over the next few weeks as AA tries to build up the roster.

Next: Oh Brothers you're still a Brave

The winter meetings will heat things up a bit and the rule 5 draft will follow.  After the Johnson trade I’m interested to see how he approaches moving Nick Markakis and Matt Kemp.

Reports that he was shopping Kakes led some to believe that means Kemp stays. I don’t think one necessarily leads to the other. Only time will tell.