One of the highlights of the Atlanta Braves weekend series win over the Philadelphia Phillies was Friday night's 9-0 blowout. Veteran Martin Perez tossed six scoreless frames, allowing only four hits and striking out four just days after the Braves had designated him for assignment. Perez was run through waivers earlier in the week and opted to become a free agent before returning on a minor league contract that included a quick demotion back to the big league club.
Perez has now pitched 20.1 innings, allowing only five earned runs while striking out 10 and eating innings for what is an injury-riddled rotation. The fact that the Braves have the luxury of parting ways with this type of production speaks to the level the current rotation has reached and the wealth of pitching at Atlanta's disposal.
Despite being brought back, Perez is still likely to be jettisoned with Spencer Strider already on a rehab assignment and the potential returns of Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach looming. If Perez is going to stick with the Braves, it will have to be in a reduced role as an innings eater out of the bullpen.
The fact that this is a legitimate take on a starter with a 2.21 ERA so far in the 2026 season is a testament to Atlanta's incredible depth. When the rotation is fully healthy, the Braves need to choose five players out of Waldrep, Perez, Schwellenbach, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, Strider, Chris Sale, and Bryce Elder. This is to say nothing of the team's prospects that are making a push to jump to the next level.
Braves Demotion of Martin Perez Exposes Wealth of Starting Pitching
For Perez, it has to be a bit frustrating not only to be demoted after offering strong production but to realize there is very little you can realistically do to remain with Atlanta. The fact that the left-hander was willing to re-sign after being demoted speaks to Atlanta's culture and the talent in the clubhouse and front office.
If Perez isn't moved into a bullpen role when Strider returns, but is forced off the roster, it would be a surprise to see a second reunion between the two sides. There are plenty of teams that would greatly benefit from the veteran southpaw, making it clear that the Braves face a difficult decision.
With that said, it is a welcome problem to have after a 2025 season where the franchise was desperate to fill innings. It is great to see the wealth of options the franchise has that can help carry the team to what fans hope is a deep postseason run. One that Perez would be unlikely to be a part of, despite the early-season production from a veteran who has the misfortune of playing well for a team with far more exciting options.
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