By declining Travis d’Arnaud’s option, trading Jorge Soler, and restructuring the contracts of Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez, the team saved a significant amount of money. However, Alex Anthopoulos hasn’t spent much, primarily offering minor league contracts with expected invites to Spring Training. This trend continued with the addition of reliever Enyel De Los Santos, as reported by MLB Trade Rumors.
De Los Santos started his career with the Phillies and Pirates but struggled during parts of three seasons with those teams. He had a breakout year in 2022 with the Guardians, recording a 3.04 ERA and 2.98 SIERA. However, his numbers dropped in 2023 after returning in a higher-leverage role, finishing with a 3.29 ERA and 4.06 SIERA.
In a rare lose-lose trade for both teams, De Los Santos was traded to the Padres for Scott Barlow last offseason. The Guardians released Barlow, and De Los Santos went on to play for three teams, struggling at each stop.
Over his time with the Padres, Yankees, and White Sox, he pitched 64 innings with a 5.20 ERA, though his 3.86 SIERA offers some hope. At just 29 years old and with few injury concerns, his combined 2022-2023 stats show a 3.18 ERA and 3.57 SIERA in 119 innings. If the Braves are getting that version of De Los Santos, it could be another successful under-the-radar acquisition for Anthopoulos. However, his 2024 season could reveal whether his previous form is behind him.
Given that it’s a minor league deal, the Braves are taking on minimal risk.
