A couple of weeks ago, the Atlanta Braves released veteran first baseman Garrett Cooper and reliever Jordan Weems from Triple-A Gwinnett. Cooper and Weems were both on minor league deals.
Cooper has yet to sign with a new team, but Weems has found a new opportunity with an AL West club. According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Weems has reportedly signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros.
The right-handed relief pitcher will reportedly head to Triple-A Sugar Land. The ex-Braves pitcher will hope to have better luck with Houston’s minor league affiliate after struggling in Gwinnett.
The Braves signed the 32-year-old Weems in the offseason to a minor league contract and went to Spring Training with them. Weems made two appearances in the spring circuit in February, before starting the 2025 season at Triple-A and not with the big league club.
In 14 games at Triple-A Gwinnett, the veteran reliever had a 1-1 record and 5.09 ERA. He gave up 19 hits, 11 runs (10 earned), 10 walks, and three home runs, while recording 18 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
The veteran right-handed pitcher had a 2.79 ERA in 9.2 innings in April, but struggled in May as he allowed seven earned runs in eight innings of work and couldn’t get anyone out. Opponents hit .288 off of Weems, which isn’t great at any level.
That said, we’ll see if the former Brave can figure things out with the Astros organization. If he can, Weems could be a serviceable middle-inning reliever in Houston. Before signing with the Braves, the veteran spent the previous three seasons with the Washington Nationals.
Weems didn’t pitch well last year with the Nationals, sporting a 6.70 ERA across 41 outings, but had a 4.15 ERA in 12 appearances with their Triple-A affiliate.