The roster shuffle continues for the Atlanta Braves. The team is sending Rule 5 pick Anderson Pilar back to the Miami Marlins, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. No official announcement has been made quite yet. Assuming everything plays out as expected, Atlanta’s 40-man roster count will drop from 39 to 38.
Pilar’s Journey: From Miami to Atlanta and Back Again
The 27-year-old Pilar spent most of his career in the Rockies’ system before signing with the Marlins in 2024. Last season, he impressed across three minor league levels, posting a 2.64 ERA in 58 innings with a strong 30.6% strikeout rate and just a 5.6% walk rate.
Those numbers were enough for the Braves to take a chance on him in the Rule 5 draft, giving him an opportunity to make the big-league club out of spring training.
But spring training wasn’t kind to him. In six outings, Pilar struck out 12 batters, issued six walks, and gave up 10 hits, leading to nine earned runs. Those struggles made it tough for Atlanta to justify keeping him on a roster that’s built to win now.
The Braves Bullpen Strategy
Returning Pilar is just part of a larger bullpen puzzle for Atlanta. The team has been working under the competitive balance tax threshold while taking low-risk chances on veteran arms.
They’ve added names like Craig Kimbrel, Héctor Neris, Enyel De Los Santos, Buck Farmer, and Chasen Shreve on minor or team-friendly contracts.
The competition has already forced some tough choices. The Braves recently traded Angel Perdomo to the Angels and released veteran lefty Jake Diekman. Now, with Pilar likely heading back to Miami, another spot opens up.
What’s Next for the Braves Roster?
The Braves started camp with two Rule 5 picks. The second one, infielder Christian Cairo, isn’t making a strong case to stick around either. He’s hitting just .179 this spring, and if Atlanta decides to return him to the Cleveland Guardians, that’ll free up yet another roster spot.
With Opening Day approaching, Atlanta is trimming the roster to focus on players who can contribute immediately. Pilar had an opportunity but didn’t capitalize. Now the Braves will continue shaping their bullpen and bench depth for the season ahead.
