Braves Designate Carlos Carrasco Again, Opening Spot for James Karinchak

The Atlanta Braves designated veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment again, a move that underscores how unsettled his roster status has become during this stretch of the season. Atlanta’s front office used the transaction to reshape its relief corps, recalling JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett and adding another right-handed arm, James Karinchak, whose contract was selected to the major-league roster.

Carrasco’s latest DFA continues a pattern with the team. Earlier in the year, Atlanta also removed him from the active roster through the same process, reflecting that the club has been willing to cycle bullpen depth as innings demands and matchups shift. While Carrasco remains a veteran presence, the repeated roster churn suggests the Braves are treating the move as a moving target rather than a permanent benching.

In the corresponding roster reshuffle, the Braves placed right-handed reliever Tyler Kinley on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation. The IL placement reduces Atlanta’s immediate bullpen flexibility and creates a concrete timetable for a spot to be re-earned once he is healthy enough to return. For now, the move forces Atlanta to look elsewhere within its bullpen pipeline.

To fill that immediate pitching need, Atlanta recalled Ritchie from Gwinnett. The right-hander’s promotion gives the Braves another option to cover bullpen innings while they decide whether Carrasco will be traded, claimed off waivers, or eventually cleared to minor-league depth if no club picks him up. Like many DFA situations, the outcome after designation will determine how quickly Atlanta can stabilize its roster.

Atlanta also selected Karinchak’s contract from Triple-A Gwinnett, indicating the organization’s intent to inject a higher-ceiling bullpen option. The Braves have frequently leaned on their farm system for late-inning innings coverage, and Karinchak’s arrival provides another right-handed profile for manager Brian Snitker to deploy based on matchups.

A DFA does not end a player’s time with a team immediately, but it does change the leverage and roster planning. Over the next days, Carrasco will have the chance to remain in the organization if he clears waivers, or he could land with another club looking for veteran pitching depth. For Atlanta, the next decision will revolve around whether the bullpen spot created by this DFA stays filled by Carrasco’s replacement, or whether it ends up moving again depending on waiver results and Kinley’s recovery.

Looking ahead, the Braves will also monitor how quickly the bullpen can adjust to Kinley’s absence, since elbow inflammation can complicate return timelines. At the same time, Atlanta’s use of Karinchak and Ritchie suggests the team is preparing for a fluid bullpen role setup rather than waiting for a single roster answer. If Carrasco is claimed, Atlanta’s bullpen picture could settle faster, but if he clears waivers, the Braves will likely face another round of decisions on how best to integrate both veteran and developmental options going forward.