Braves commit Guardian-on-Guardian crime with latest bullpen reshuffling 

For parts of five seasons, James Karinchak was a key part of the Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen. While that time featured some big moments, it ended on a bit of a sour note thanks to his struggles adapting to the pitch clock. 

And it looked like those struggles would doom his ability to get back to the big leagues, as he’s spent most of the past three years wallowing away in the minors. 

But that changed earlier today when the Atlanta Braves added him to their big league roster in place of former Guardians starter Carlos Carrasco, who was designated for assignment. 

Although this isn’t the first time Carrasco has been DFA’d by the Braves this season, this one means a bit more for Guardians fans given it freed up space for Karinchak, who was once viewed as the future of Cleveland’s bullpen. 

James Karinchak is back in MLB with the Braves 

Karinchak made his big league debut at the tail end of the 2019 with 5 1/3 innings before following that up with a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings in 2020. 

He got some work as the team’s closer in the following season, but his season took a nosedive in the second half following MLB’s stick stuff ban. He had a 2.76 ERA in 32 2/3 innings prior to the ban being put in place on June 21 and a 5.96 ERA in 22 2/3 innings after. 

He had a 2.08 ERA in 39 innings in 2022 and added five scoreless innings in the postseason, but he didn’t last a full season on the Guardians’ roster in 2023 thanks to the pitch clock. 

Karinchak was always known for a wild pre-pitch routine that involved him flipping the ball in his glove and running his hands through his hair, but he had to truncate it due to the pitch clock and never was able to adjust. 

He finished the 2023 season in the minors with the Guardians and missed nearly all of 2024 due to a shoulder issue. 

The Guardians outrighted him off their roster following that season and he signed a minor league deal with the White Sox, who released him after he threw 29 1/3 innings in Triple-A. 

He signed a minor league deal with the Braves in the offseason and had a 2.45 ERA in 25 1/3 innings in Triple-A with 38 strikeouts compared to 10 walks. 

Carrasco was thrust into action yesterday and allowed one run over 1 2/3 innings in Atlanta’s loss to the White Sox, which all but confirmed a DFA was coming.

Carrasco has essentially been operating like the 41st man on the Braves’ roster, as they cut him every time they need a fresh arm then re-sign him to a minor league deal once he clears waivers and re-add him to their roster when they need another fresh arm.

It's quite a cycle, but it seems to be a cycle Carrasco is fine with since he keeps signing up for it. 

Karinchak could end up becoming a more permanent fixture on their roster, however, since he still has a minor league option remaining. 

While Carrasco and Karinchak were teammates on the Guardians in 2019 and ‘20, they’re not parts of Atlanta’s revolving bullpen door some 700 miles away from Progressive Field

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