The Braves have actually signed catcher Sandy Leon and right-hander Jackson Stephens to minors agreements, according to the MLB.com bio pages for both gamers.  For Stephens, he goes back to the company after declining a straight-out task in favor of totally free firm previously today.

Leon’s addition looks like a pure depth relocation for the Braves with Sean Murphy on the 10-day hurt list.  Since there typically isn’t a set timeline for oblique injuries, it isn’t yet understood when Murphy may be back in action, so signing Leon provides Atlanta a bit more versatility at Triple-A Gwinnett.  Travis d’Arnaud and Chadwick Tromp are dealing with capturing responsibilities on the major league lineup, and Sebastian Rivero was the only catcher on the Gwinnett lineup with any previous MLB experience.

The 35-year-old Leon has actually played in each of the last 12 Major League seasons, dressing for 6 various groups.  Leon has actually likewise become part of the Reds and Royals companies without seeing any regular-season playing time, as Leon participated in Kansas City’s training school this previous spring after being signed to a minors deal.  The Royals chose they had adequate capturing depth and launched Leon back on March 23, so it didn’t take wish for Leon to land another chance.

Defense and game-calling has actually long been Leon’s calling card, enabling him to take a long profession as a part-timer and backup catcher regardless of a .208/.276/.311 slash line over 1729 profession plate looks.  He won a World Series ring with the 2018 Red Sox and appeared in 21 video games for another champion simply last season with the Rangers, though Leon invested the majority of 2023 with the Triple-A affiliates of the Rangers and Guardians.

Stephens was very first outrighted off a 40-man lineup back in 2019 when he belonged to the Reds, and he has given that had the capability to turn down any other straight-out task in favor of totally free firm.  Since he is now out of minors alternatives, Stephens has actually bounced on and off Atlanta’s 40-man numerous times given that very first signing up with the group throughout the 2021-22 offseason, selecting totally free firm and after that returning after some time period on a brand-new agreement.  Last November, Stephens once again went with totally free firm before re-signing on a split agreement with the Braves, and it isn’t understood if this brand-new offer is likewise a split plan or if it’s simply a straight minors pact.

Stephens published a 4.83 age over 63 1/3 innings with the Reds from 2017-18, then invested the next 3 seasons pitching in the minors, the Mexican League, and on the sidelines completely due to the canceled 2020 minors project.  He resurfaced after signing with the Braves and has a decent 3.56 AGE, 20.2% strikeout rate, and 9.8% walk rate in 65 2/3 frames given that the start of the 2022 season.  Thirty-9 of Stephens’ 44 Atlanta looks happened in 2022, as the righty invested a great deal of in 2015 either in the minors or in DFA/free representative limbo.