Right-hander David Carpenter figured returning to the Braves would provide his best chance to catch on with a big-league club but it turns out he didn’t get much of an opportunity.
In a surprise move on Saturday, the Braves released Carpenter after he’d made just one appearance in a Grapefruit League game.
“It does go a little bit against what we talked about originally,” Carpenter said. “But it’s the game. They’ve got to make decisions that are best for the Atlanta Braves and I understand that. I also appreciate they are trying to think of me on this (with an early release). It stinks, especially being back around some familiar faces that I had some really good times with on staff and with the team.”
Carpenter, 30, was a top reliever for the Braves in 2013 and 2014. The Braves traded Carpenter to the Yankees before the 2015 season and he was traded again in June to the Nationals. He made just eight appearances with Washington while dealing with inflammation in his shoulder.
Carpenter signed with the Braves in November. General manager John Coppolella said Carpenter was buried deep on the depth chart after the Braves subsequently signed several free agents, so the club made the decision to release Carpenter now so he’d have a chance to catch on with another team before camp breaks.
Carpenter was called on to pitch against the Orioles on Wednesday after Andrew McKirahan departed the game with forearm pain. He allowed no hits, runs or walks in one inning.
“Proving I’m healthy, that was the good part,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter pitched the late innings for the Braves in 2013, his first full season in the majors, and posted a 1.78 ERA in 65.2 innings with 0.9 walks and hits per inning pitched. His season ended on a sour note when he gave up a decisive two-run homer to Dodgers slugger Juan Uribe in Game 4 of an NL division playoff series.
Carpenter said he received interest from other teams before signing a minor-league deal with the Braves.
“I thought this was going to be one of the better fits,” he said. “There are still no hard feelings. It stings a little bit right now.”
