BREAKING: Braves Secure Major Star with Surprising Contract Agreement

Braves Secure Major Star with Surprising Contract Agreement. The Braves signed right-handed pitcher Zach Thompson to a minor league contract earlier this week, as indicated on his MLB.com profile. Thompson confirmed the signing on his Instagram account yesterday. After celebrating his 31st birthday this week, he did not sign with a team for 2024 following surgery last October to repair a partially torn flexor tendon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thompson, a fifth-round pick by the White Sox in the 2014 draft, made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 2021. He had a strong rookie season, serving as a key swingman for Miami. In 26 appearances, including 14 starts, he posted a 3.24 ERA over 75 innings, along with a 3.69 FIP. He struck out 21% of batters faced while walking 8.9%. His impressive performance prompted the Pirates to acquire him as part of the trade that sent Jacob Stallings to the Marlins during the 2021-22 offseason.

 

 

 

 

 

However, Thompson’s 2022 season with the Pirates did not match his rookie success. He pitched 122 1/3 innings over 29 appearances (22 starts) but finished with a 5.18 ERA and a 4.87 FIP. While his walk rate remained steady at 8.5%, his strikeout rate dropped to 16.6%, and his home run rate nearly doubled, leading the Pirates to designate him for assignment in January 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Braves Secure Major Star, Shortly thereafter, he was traded to the Blue Jays but did not make the opening day roster and was ultimately DFA’d in June. For most of the 2023 season, he played at the Triple-A level for Toronto, where he recorded a 4.61 ERA over 105 1/3 innings in 24 starts, striking out just 17.4% of batters. After undergoing surgery in October, he opted for free agency.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that he appears to have recovered, Thompson aims to re-establish himself as a viable big league option with the Braves. Atlanta has a history of helping struggling pitchers find success, as seen with recent bullpen additions Grant Holmes and Jesse Chavez. With Chavez and lefty A.J. Minter both headed for free agency, Thompson could compete for a bullpen spot in spring training, especially if the Braves prioritize other roster areas like the rotation, which may see the departure of Max Fried and Charlie Morton.