TAMPA – The Braves claimed left-hander Jesse Biddle off waivers Saturday, two days after the former first-round draft pick and top prospect was released by the Pirates.
They’re taking a low-cost, no-risk flyer on Biddle, 24, in hopes that he can recover from Tommy John surgery and become the pitcher he was once projected to be. He’ll spend the 2016 season on the 60-day disabled list and not cost the Braves a roster spot.
Biddle was a first-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 and a top-100 prospect as recently as two years ago. But his stock plummeted after posting ERAs of 5.84 at three minor league levels in 2014 and 5.67 in 24 starts last season in Double-A and Triple-A before elbow surgery in October.
The Pirates acquired Biddle in a trade for right-hander Yoervis Medina, and designated him for assignment to open a 40-man roster spot after signing third baseman David Freese. Biddle had the right to refuse going to the Braves after they claimed him on release waivers.
“I spoke with him and he said that he’s very happy to be here,” Braves general manager John Coppolella said. “Obviously he won’t pitch this year, so it’s something where … we’ve got a lot of experience with guys who are in his situation, and we’ve seen some real good things out of guys who went through this last year, like Max Fried, A.J. Minter (prospects coming back from T.J. surgery).
“You won’t see him in 2016, but as we keep trying to add arms and add upside, this is a guy who was a former top-100 prospect that our scouts like. Just kind of see what happens. You see the price of pitching out there, and the more depth you can have the better off you’re going to be.”
