This afternoon, the Atlanta Braves announced the acquisition of right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton from the Pittsburgh Pirates. In exchange, the Braves sent minor league outfielder Titus Dumitru and cash considerations to Pittsburgh. Stratton was immediately optioned to Triple-A, and to make room for him on the 40-man roster, Atlanta placed veteran starter Chris Sale on the 60-day injured list.
The move involving Sale was not a surprise, though it’s certainly unfortunate for both him and the team. Sale, who fractured his rib cage, was initially placed on the injured list on June 21, retroactive to June 19. The transfer to the 60-day IL means he will not be eligible to return until late August, a significant setback for a Braves rotation already navigating injuries.
Hunter Stratton, 28, has had limited exposure to the majors this season, appearing in just three games for the Pirates and tossing 2.2 innings. However, he brings some experience from last year, when he pitched in 36 games out of the bullpen and was solid enough to post a 0.7 fWAR—a respectable mark for a reliever.
Stratton made his MLB debut in 2023 after putting up strong numbers at the Triple-A level, where he impressed with nearly 12 strikeouts per nine innings. While his strikeout rate has dipped slightly since then, both in the majors and the minors, he still offers a potentially useful bullpen arm with strikeout upside.
On the other end of the deal, outfielder Titus Dumitru departs after four seasons in the Braves’ minor league system. He had been playing for High-A Rome this year. While not a top prospect, Dumitru was a solid organizational player, and his departure opens the door for the Braves to strengthen their bullpen depth heading into the second half of the season.
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