Earlier this month, the Braves signed reliever Enyel De Los Santos to a minor league deal, in response to his transaction log on MLB.com. The proper-hander was non-tendered by the White Sox earlier this offseason.
De Los Santos struggled by means of his first three MLB seasons with the Phillies and Pirates earlier than breaking out with the Guardians in 2022. He went 5-0 over 50 video games, pitching to a 3.04 ERA and a 2.98 SIERA. He earned his first profession save that summer season and made his postseason debut that fall. The righty took on a much bigger function in Cleveland’s bullpen the next season, pitching in 70 video games (65 2/3 innings) and infrequently getting into in higher-leverage spots than he had the 12 months earlier than. His strikeout charge dropped, his stroll charge climbed, and his total numbers weren’t fairly as spectacular (3.29 ERA, 4.06 SIERA). Nonetheless, it was a strong season and one other step for De Los Santos towards establishing himself as a dependable reliever.
Throughout the 2023-24 offseason, the Guardians dealt De Los Santos to the Padres in trade for Scott Barlow. It was a barely stunning transfer for the Guardians, who’re sometimes those buying and selling veteran pitchers on expiring contracts for youthful, cheaper arms, not the opposite method round. Finally, the commerce didn’t work out on both aspect. Cleveland launched Barlow in September amid a tough second half. In the meantime, De Los Santos ended up pitching for 3 completely different groups and struggled in numerous methods with all of them. After a disappointing begin with the Padres, he discovered himself headed to the Yankees forward of the commerce deadline. New York designated him for task a couple of weeks later, and he completed the season with the White Sox. General, he put up a 5.20 ERA in 64 innings of labor, though his 3.86 SIERA appears rather more promising.
There isn’t any doubt the 2024 marketing campaign was tough for De Los Santos. Nonetheless, there may be nonetheless lots to love about his arm. For one factor, he’s obtained youth on his aspect; he’ll flip 29 tomorrow on Christmas Day. Furthermore, he has by no means gone on the injured listing. As for his manufacturing, from 2022-23, he pitched 119 innings with a 3.18 ERA and three.57 SIERA. That sort of efficiency within the center innings would enhance each contending group’s bullpen. What’s extra, De Los Santos had robust underlying numbers over his first 44 video games with San Diego earlier than he was traded. His strikeout and stroll charges have been up at their 2022 ranges, and his mediocre 4.46 ERA was greater than a full run increased than his sterling 3.21 SIERA. His numbers took a flip for the ugly after the commerce deadline, however that’s a comparatively small pattern dimension to work with. There’s little cause to fret that the model of De Los Santos who generally is a sturdy, high-strikeout pitcher has disappeared for good.
So, the Braves are betting on that upside by signing De Los Santos to a minor league deal and presumably inviting the righty to huge league camp. Atlanta had probably the greatest bullpens within the league in 2024, however there are nonetheless a couple of spots on the again finish that needs to be up for grabs this spring.
