The Atlanta Braves revolving door of veteran depth pieces continued to spin this week. According to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers’ transactions page, Garrett Cooper and Jordan Weems were officially released from the organization.
Neither move is particularly shocking given their recent performance. Both signal the end of once-promising comeback bids for two players who’ve seen their share of big league moments.
Garrett Cooper: The Bat Went Quiet
Garrett Cooper’s story is a tale of a once-reliable bat that just couldn’t get going again. The 34-year-old first baseman and corner outfielder came to Spring Training with a non-zero chance of sneaking onto the Braves’ Opening Day roster.
There was a clear path to a bench role if he could show the kind of power and discipline that made him an All-Star just a couple of seasons ago with Miami.
But instead, the bat never woke up. Across 35 games in Gwinnett, Cooper mustered a .621 OPS with just two home runs and an alarming 33 strikeouts. That’s not the kind of production that earns you another shot in the majors. When you’re trying to crack one of the deepest rosters in baseball, that doesn’t cut it.
To make matters worse, Cooper had already bounced between two clubs in 2024. He appeared in 36 big league games combined for the Cubs and Red Sox. Neither stint sparked much momentum, and Atlanta brought him in more for insurance than expectations.
With the outfield depth stabilizing and first base locked down, Cooper’s release closes the book on a veteran trying to hang on. That underlines how quickly the window can close in this game.
Jordan Weems: Control Problems Persist
As for Jordan Weems, his release is more about unfulfilled potential than faded glory. The 32-year-old right-hander had become a bullpen fixture for the Nationals from 2022 to 2024, even putting together a solid 2023 campaign where he appeared in 51 games and held his own in high-leverage spots.
But his command issues — long a red flag in his career — never went away. He signed with Atlanta in the offseason as a depth move, with the hope that his previous NL East experience might provide some upside in a relief unit that’s seen its share of fluctuation. Instead, he put up a 5.09 ERA across 17.2 innings in Gwinnett, walking 10 batters and never really finding the zone consistently.
For Weems, a Columbus, Ga. native and former third-round pick of the Red Sox, this likely stings more than most releases. Coming home, fighting for a final chapter in front of family and friends — it had the makings of a feel-good comeback story. But like Cooper, the performance just didn’t match the opportunity.
Atlanta Braves Keep Churning
These moves are par for the course for the Braves, who continue to aggressively manage their depth chart. With injuries and suspensions forcing constant adjustments, players like Cooper and Weems were always going to be temporary fixtures unless they offered something undeniable.
They didn’t — and now, Atlanta moves forward, keeping its eyes peeled for contributors who can make a difference in what’s shaping up to be a tight postseason race. It’s not personal, it’s baseball. And as Cooper and Weems both know too well, sometimes the door closes no matter how hard you try to keep it open.
