Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Braves veteran elects free agency

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Chase Irle | Last updated 3/27/24

When the Braves signed Jesse Chavez late last week, it likely meant bad news for somebody currently on the roster. That person was Jackson Stephens, who was outrighted to Gwinnett in favor of Chavez yesterday.

I had hoped he’d stick around with the club, because there’s a good chance an arm like his would be needed at some point, but the veteran right-hander has opted for free agency to see what else is out there.

Jackson Stephens elected free agency.

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) March 27, 2024

In 2022, Stephens posted a 3.69 ERA in 36 appearances for the Braves. He stuck with the organization the following year but only appeared in five games with a 3.00 ERA. Stephens is deserving of another opportunity at the major-league level, and it looked like it was going to happen again with the Braves, but sometimes opportunities arise for the team. The Braves feel like Jesse Chavez is the better option, and who can blame him after the way he has performed in Atlanta over the last three seasons?

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: