JUST IN: Braves See Player Claimed by Nationals During Free Agency Shuffle

The Washington Nationals have picked up a player from the Atlanta Braves organization as roster maneuvering continues across MLB this offseason.

Atlanta has spent the later part of the winter tweaking the edges of its roster, a routine approach for a franchise that values depth just as much as star talent. With its core still built to contend, the Braves’ front office has been rotating bullpen arms and fringe players, looking for upside while keeping the 40-man roster flexible.

The bullpen remains a central focus. Even after adding proven late-inning relievers Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suarez in free agency, Atlanta has continued to cycle through the lower tier of its relief corps, especially pitchers with intriguing tools. That has resulted in multiple waiver claims and designations as the team weighs short-term dependability against long-term control.

This constant reshuffling highlights the Braves’ belief in their pitching development system, while also recognizing how unpredictable relief pitching can be.

That strategy led to a notable move Friday involving right-hander George Soriano, who had only recently joined the organization. The Nationals announced they claimed Soriano off waivers from Atlanta, while designating shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng for assignment.

Soriano, 26, has had a busy offseason, bouncing between teams through waiver moves. The Braves designated him for assignment earlier in the week after claiming left-hander Jose Suarez, a transaction that effectively pushed Soriano out during another bullpen adjustment.

For Atlanta, the decision was driven more by roster logistics than on-field performance. Soriano is out of minor-league options, meaning he would have needed to stay on the major-league roster. Over the past three seasons, he has posted a 5.95 ERA in 118 big-league innings and has struggled to find consistency.

The move reinforces Atlanta’s confidence in its bullpen depth and its willingness to part with fringe players to maintain roster flexibility. While Soriano may get a steadier opportunity in Washington, the Braves remain focused on optimizing every roster spot as Opening Day draws closer.