G-Braves add Halama to boost rotation

Cincinnati — The Braves signed left-hander John Halama, an eight-year journeyman in the majors, to help fill out their rotation in Gwinnett. He is scheduled to start the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.

Halama, 37, had major-league stints with the Nationals, the Red Sox, the Athletics, the Mariners and most recently the Orioles in 2006. The Braves found him pitching for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League, where he was 8-1 with a 2.05 ERA in nine starts.

The original Gwinnett rotation has been decimated by the call-ups of Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen, and the departures of Jo-Jo Reyes, who was in the majors and is now on the disabled list, and Charlie Morton, who was traded to the Pirates in the Nate McLouth deal.

They earlier promoted Jonny Venters from Class AA Mississippi and moved Francisely Bueno from the bullpen.