Los Angeles — It would be a gross understatement to say newly signed Braves reliever Julian Tavarez has been around the block a few times. Or that he's stirred things up a bit along the way.

The Braves, his 10th major league team and third this season, needed someone to bolster their injury-riddled bullpen. Tavarez, 35, was imminently available, having been released last month by Milwaukee after refusing to accept an outright assignment to the minor leagues.

"Three baseball teams already [this season]," said Tavarez, who began the season with Boston and was released by the Red Sox. "Hopefully this is it. I don't want to jump around anymore."

Tavarez allowed 13 hits, 10 runs (seven earned) and five walks with 10 strikeouts in 7-1/3 innings for the Brewers, who released him June 25. For the Red Sox, he gave up 18 hits, nine earned runs and nine walks in 12-2/3 innings. They released him May 22.

He's filled every role, starting to closer, during a 16-year career. Asked about his role with the Braves, manager Bobby Cox said, "Any role right now. The way our bullpen shapes up, I'm just looking for someone to throw an inning."

The fiery right-hander has been suspended five times, most recently for punching Tampa Bay Joey Gathright during a 2006 spring training game with Boston. That drew a 10-game suspension.

In 2004 with the Cardinals, Tavarez broke two bones in his left hand when he punched a dugout phone. He threw a ball behind Jeff Bagwell's head in that same game, drawing a $15,000 fine.

In 2003 with Pittsburgh, he left the dugout to throw punches in a brawl with Tampa Bay.

In 2001 with the Cubs, when he was suspended five games and fined $16,000 for kicking San Francisco's Russ Davis. A month later, when asked about being booed by San Francisco fans, he said he didn't care because they were a bunch of "assholes and [perjorative term for gays]." He was instructed to take sensitivity training after that.

In 1996 with Cleveland, he threw a pitch behind Mike Matheny and knocked over umpire Joe Brinkman during the benches-clearing brawl that ensued.

Tavarez joined the Braves in Los Angeles and was activated for Tuesday night's game against the Dodgers, after flying from his home in the Dominican Republic to New York on Monday, then to Los Angeles on Tuesday.

He retired just one of five Dodgers batters he faced in the ninth.

He had been set to participate in a workout session in New York with other unsigned players, but Tavarez got a change of plans when his agent, Scott Boras, called him at the airport Monday.

The Braves optioned outfielder Jason Perry to Class AAA Richmond to open a spot on the major league roster, and moved pitcher John Smoltz from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Smoltz had season-ending shoulder surgery last month.

Tavarez is 84-72 with 22 saves and a 4.46 ERA in 750 career games, including 11 saves with Pittburgh in 2003, and three conscutive seasons with double-digit wins in 2000-2002 He began his career with Cleveland in 1993 and has pitched in five postseasons.