NEW YORK – The Braves’ search for left-handed relief help continued with the signing of veteran Sean Burnett to a minor league contract.
Burnett, 33, opted out of a minor league deal with the Dodgers to sign with the Braves, who have an opportunity readily available for the former setup man if he looks like he can eventually help their big-league team.
Attemping to make it back to the big leagues after a second Tommy John elbow surgery in 2014, Burnett had a 2.35 ERA in seven appearances for the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, allowing eight hits (one homer) and six walks with five strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
He’ll report to Triple-A Gwinnett for now as he continues to work toward a hopeful return to the big leagues, where he last pitched in 2014, making three appearances with the angels before tearing the ulnar collateral ligament again in his pitching elbow.
Burnett returned to the Nationals this spring training, but didn’t make their team out of camp and signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers.
He was an outstanding setup man for the Nationals during 2009-2012, posting a 2.43 ERA in 73 appearances in 2010 and a 2.38 ERA in 70 appearances in 2012. That work helped land Burnett a two-year, $8 million deal with the Angels, but he pitched in only 13 games in 2013 before an elbow impingement required season-ending surgery. A year later, he had the far more extensive Tommy John surgery for a second time.
