While the Atlanta Braves are busy making plans for an offseason vacation, other teams are getting ready for the postseason. September can be an anxious time for any baseball player, as the pressure of a pennant chase can create a legend or a scapegoat, but many teams are trying to figure out what they have as they head towards the postseason.
This has teams adapting quickly, and the chase to add bullpen depth leads to some surprising moves. For former Braves hurler John Brebbia, this created another opportunity as the right-hander signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox according to NESN’s Tom Caron.
Red Sox Add Former Braves Reliever John Brebbia for Stretch Run
Brebbia was in the midst of his second stint with the Atlanta Braves earlier this month but was designated for assignment on Sept. 8 after allowing four earned runs in 4.2 innings (three appearances) with the team. It was a continuation of the struggles that have plagued Brebbia over this season, as the 35-year-old posted an identical ERA to the 7.71 mark he posted in 19 appearances with the Detroit Tigers this season and part of a downward spiral that began in 2023.
Brebbia had a renaissance in his early 30s as he posted a 3.47 ERA and a 1.26 ERA in 116 appearances for the San Francisco Giants between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The issues began when Brebbia signed with the Chicago White Sox the following offseason, and a 6.29 ERA in 54 appearances led him to be designated for assignment and picked up by the Braves a few days later.
The stint with the Braves went well enough to earn the offseason deal with the Tigers, but it wasn’t a development that put his career back on track. Fortunately, Brebbia has gotten an opportunity to pitch with another contender, the Red Sox.
Boston is 81-67 and sits 4.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East. They’re also to hang on for a wild card spot, and the move gives Brebbia, who is a Massachusetts native, a chance to pitch for his home state team.
Brebbia isn’t eligible to pitch in the postseason since he joined the organization after Aug. 31. But it’s another former Brave that will have an important role down the stretch as Atlanta looks to get it over with and prepare for next season.