The Braves have signed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor league deal, according to multiple reports Friday night.
Edwards Jr., who made a name for himself with the Chicago Cubs in recent years, joined the Seattle Mariners in 2020 but only appeared in five games before battling a forearm strain. Edwards owns a career 3.54 ERA, 3.32 FIP and 3.64 xFIP with high strikeout and walk numbers. He was probably best described as effectively wild with the Cubs, and the Braves will now try to harness his command and turn him into a viable middle or late inning option.
The Braves’ bullpen is in a bit of a flux at the moment with Mark Melancon and Shane Greene still free agents and the uncertain future of Will Smith after a rough first season in Atlanta. Adding types like Edwards Jr. is always a worthwhile proposition; it’s a minimal risk signing with some nice upside for the bullpen.