Overview
- The Braves agreed to a minor-league contract with RHP James Karinchak at the Winter Meetings, as reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
- Karinchak, 30, last pitched in the majors in 2023, missed most of 2024 with a shoulder issue, and worked in Triple-A for the White Sox before a June 2025 release.
- The move targets upside from his swing-and-miss profile built on an electric fastball and a hard 12–6 curve, offset by a history of walks.
- He logged a 2.45 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 29.1 innings at Triple-A Charlotte in 2025 despite persistent control problems.
- He is expected to function as organizational bullpen depth next season, likely opening at Triple-A Gwinnett with a spring training invitation.