The Atlanta Braves placed left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez on the 15-day injured list on Monday due to a left forearm contusion and designated right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment, according to official team transactions. These roster moves come as the organization manages its pitching depth during the 2025 campaign.
A forearm contusion typically results from a direct blow to the arm, though the Braves have not specified the exact nature of the incident that sidelined Pérez. The 15-day injured list designation provides the team a window to evaluate the severity of the bruise without burning a permanent roster spot. Meanwhile, the decision to designate Carlos Carrasco for assignment means the veteran pitcher is removed from the 40-man roster and can be traded or claimed by another team within a specific window.
These shifts reflect a volatile period for the Braves’ rotation and bullpen. By moving Carrasco, the team creates a vacancy on the 40-man roster, while Pérez’s absence creates a temporary gap in the left-handed pitching options available to manager Brian Snitker.
Why was Martín Pérez placed on the injured list?
Martín Pérez is sidelined with a left forearm contusion. While a contusion is a medical term for a bruise, the impact on a pitcher’s performance depends on whether the injury affects grip, release, or arm speed. According to MLB.com’s official transaction logs, the move to the 15-day injured list was finalized Monday.
Pérez, a veteran southpaw, was brought in to provide stability and a left-handed look to the rotation. The timing of this injury forces the Braves to rely more heavily on their internal depth or a call-up from Triple-A Gwinnett. Because the injury is listed as a contusion rather than a strain or tear, the prognosis is generally more optimistic, provided there is no underlying structural damage to the ligaments or tendons.
What does the DFA of Carlos Carrasco mean for the Braves?
Designated for assignment (DFA) is a procedural move that allows a team to immediately remove a player from its 40-man roster. In the case of Carlos Carrasco, the Braves have decided to move in a different direction with their pitching staff. Once a player is DFA’d, the team has seven days to trade the player or place him on irrevocable waivers.
If no other team claims Carrasco off waivers, he will pass through the waiver wire and can be outrighted to the minor leagues, provided he does not exercise a right to refuse the assignment. This move signals that the Braves no longer view Carrasco as a primary piece of their immediate pitching strategy for the 2025 season.
Carrasco brings years of Major League experience, but the Braves’ current roster trajectory favors younger arms or different profiles in the bullpen and rotation. This transition is part of a broader effort by the front office to optimize the 40-man roster for flexibility and performance.
How do these moves affect the Braves’ pitching rotation?
The simultaneous loss of Pérez to injury and the removal of Carrasco from the roster creates a sudden void in the pitching staff. The Braves must now balance the need for veteran experience with the potential of their younger prospects. The loss of a left-hander like Pérez is particularly notable, as left-handed specialists are critical for neutralizing opposing power-hitting lefties.
The team’s next move will likely involve a corresponding addition to the active roster to replace the vacancy left by Pérez. This could result in a call-up from the minors or a shift in how the team utilizes its “piggyback” starting system, where two pitchers split the duties of a single game to limit pitch counts and maximize efficiency.
The impact of these changes will be felt immediately in the rotation’s depth. With Pérez out, the Braves lose a reliable arm capable of eating innings, which puts additional pressure on the bullpen to cover more ground if the remaining starters fail to go deep into games.
For more information on current roster statuses and official injury updates, fans can monitor the Atlanta Braves Official Roster page.
The Braves will provide further updates on Martín Pérez’s condition as he progresses through his recovery. The team has not yet announced a replacement for the active roster spot or the final status of Carlos Carrasco’s tenure with the club.
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