The Braves are in desperate need of experienced arms who can eat up innings over the final six weeks of the season. The club ditched Carlos Carrasco following a pair of rough outings earlier this month. Erick Fedde should probably be let go, too. Bryce Elder still cannot find any consistency, and Spencer Strider looks lost on the mound.
Even out of contention, the Braves would like some more stability in the rotation. On Thursday, the club added a former 15-game winner who they hope helps more than hurts.
Braves Claim Cal Quantrill https://t.co/SJSzQ9aAyS
— Atlanta Braves Rumors (@mlbtrbraves) August 21, 2025
Braves Claim RHP Cal Quantrill After Being Waived by Miami Marlins
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Atlanta has claimed Cal Quantrill off waivers. He was previously pitching on a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Miami Marlins this season.
The Braves will take on the rest of what’s owed on that deal, reportedly just above $700,000. That’s not an exorbitant amount, but it is at least somewhat surprising the front office would choose to add it on the books.
A first-round draft selection back in 2016, Quantrill has never, and almost certainly will never, live up to his original hype. He did enjoy great success in 2021 and 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians, putting up a 23-8 record while posting a 3.16 ERA across 72 games (54 starts) in those two seasons combined. His performance has been nowhere near that level since.
Now 30, Quantrill is in his third straight season of mediocrity, lugging around a 5.50 ERA after 24 starts with the Marlins. It is worth noting, however, that he enjoyed a significant stretch of solid work before running into a wall in August (11.25 ERA).
Cal Quantrill, Immaculate Inning. 😇 pic.twitter.com/YMaGbjWOCt
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 18, 2025
The first month of the season was rough for Quantrill, too, but from May through July, he got into the type of groove that the Braves hope he can rediscover. In that span, he worked to the tune of 3.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 61-16 K/BB ratio over 71.0 innings. Quantrill surrendered more than three runs only once in 15 starts during those three months.
Quantrill is set to be a free agent after the season, so it may be a tenure for him in a Braves uniform. Still, if he performs well, there’s a chance he ends up in spring training with the team next year.