The Atlanta Braves have claimed left-handed pitcher Jesse Biddle off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Biddle was designated for assignment last week to make room for third baseman David Freese. He was actually released by the Pirates earlier this week and Neal Huntington said that the Pirates were interested in re-signing him, but the Braves were able to pick him up before he cleared waivers.
Biddle will miss the entire 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery, and he had dropped from the top prospect rankings before he injury last year, but he was still an interesting arm due to his past. The Pirates only gave up minor league reliever Yoervis Medina to acquire Biddle, so combined with him missing the entire season, it wasn’t much of a loss to get Freese on the roster.