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Braves claim a player off waivers from the Angels, add Yonny Chirinos to the IL

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | Last updated 9/5/23

The Braves claimed one of the players placed on waivers by the Angels in a massive selloff, and in order to make room for him on the 40-man roster, they transferred Yonny Chirinos to the 60-day IL.

The #Braves today claimed INF Andrew Velazquez off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred RHP Yonny Chirinos to the 60-day injured list.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 5, 2023

Andrew Velazquez is a utility infielder who has played some outfield in a pinch. His bat isn’t much to write home about, as he slashed .173/.264/.284/.548 over 94 at-bats. Velazquez is a solid defender, so I see why the Braves chose to stash him in Gwinnett.

Nice over-the-shoulder grab by Andrew Velazquez! pic.twitter.com/uj6fNlD57h

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 27, 2023

As with Chirinos, I think the Braves want to see what he has in the tank in 2024, which is why they sent him to the IL instead of designating him for assignment. For now, I don’t expect the Braves to call up Velazquez, even if Nicky Lopez begins to struggle. Good teams find ways to improve every day, and adding some depth while giving up nothing can’t hurt if you’re the Braves.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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