The Atlanta Braves are not slowing down when it comes to adding pitching depth, and the latest arm to join the party is Wander Suero. Now, this isn’t a blockbuster signing by any stretch, but sometimes, the quiet moves pay off big later. Let’s talk about it.
According to Baseball America’s Matt Eddy, Suero signed with the Braves somewhere in that late November to early December window — we’re talking sometime between Nov. 20 and Dec. 6.
The deal isn’t officially on the Braves’ transactions page yet. Still, word from MLB Trade Rumors is that Suero will get an invite to Spring Training. And that’s where things get interesting.
Suero is 33 years old and has been around the block a bit. Last season, he was part of the Houston Astros organization. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of stint in the Majors, though — he got called up in April, pitched one game, and boom, designated for assignment. Brutal.
But instead of fading out, he spent the rest of 2023 grinding away with the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. And, get this, his numbers there were solid. In 67 2/3 innings, he posted a 2.66 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 71 strikeouts. Plus, opponents only managed to hit .238 against him. Not too shabby!
Suero hasn’t had consistent MLB time for a while, but he’s no stranger to the big leagues. From 2018 to 2021, he pitched 142 2/3 innings for the Washington Nationals.
And for those first three years, he was pretty dependable — a 4.10 ERA, a respectable 26.1% strikeout rate, and a manageable 8.5% walk rate. He wasn’t a closer, but he filled that middle-relief role well, collecting one save and 27 holds.
But then came 2021, and things got a little “bumpy.” A 6.33 ERA will do that. The Nationals non-tendered him, and he was back to the drawing board just like that.
Suero bounced around in 2022 and 2023, spending time in Triple-A with the Angels and Dodgers systems. It was kind of a journeyman story until he seemed to get his groove back in 2023.
And that’s most likely what caught the Braves’ attention. A fresh start, a minor-league deal, and a chance to prove himself in Spring Training? This could be the exact opportunity Suero needs.
The Braves Need Pitching Depth
And let’s face it, the Braves need arms. Joe Jimenez is likely out for all of 2025, and AJ Minter could walk away in free agency. There’s a gap to fill, and Atlanta seems to be hedging their bets by piling on options. The philosophy here seems to be, “Let’s see who sticks,” and honestly, it’s not a bad plan.
This isn’t the only move Atlanta’s made lately, either. They’re actively stocking up. Anderson Pilar just got snagged in the Rule 5 Draft from the Marlins, and they locked in Connor Gillispie on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal. And let’s not forget about non-tendered pitchers Ray Kerr and Royber Salinas — they’re back on minor-league deals, too.
So what does all this mean? It means the Braves are looking for depth, flexibility, and maybe even a few surprise success stories. Will Wander Suero be one of them? Well, Spring Training will tell us a lot. But for now, it’s another piece on the board, and when injuries and bullpen fatigue hit (because they always do), having these kinds of arms ready to go could make all the difference.
