Atlanta Braves Make Roster Move Days After Playoff Elimination

The Atlanta Braves have made their first roster move since their postseason run came to an end. Atlanta selected left-hander Danny Young's contract on Oct. 9 and designated infielder Luke Williams for assignment, giving Young a spot on the 40-man roster heading into the offseason, according to Harrison Smajovits of Braves On SI.

Young appeared in 16 games for Atlanta during the regular season, allowing 11 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings. Williams spent most of the year in the minors and was added to the postseason roster as a pinch-runner but did not appear in a game during the Braves' NLDS loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 30-year-old will now be available for every team on waivers.

The move is a small housekeeping transaction, but it carries some significance for Young. This is his second stint with the Braves organization, having originally pitched in Atlanta back in 2023 before being released.

The Braves re-signed him last December on a one-year deal, reuniting him with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who had previously worked with Young during his time with the New York Mets.

Young missed the first half of the 2026 season while completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent with the Mets in May 2025.

He was activated from the 60-day IL in July and gradually worked his way into Atlanta's bullpen down the stretch. The results were not dominant, but he provided a left-handed option in a bullpen that needed depth at various points throughout the season.

By selecting Young's contract rather than letting him hit free agency, Atlanta is signaling that they view him as more than a temporary depth piece.

The Braves put him directly on the 40-man roster when they signed him last winter for the same reason, and this move reinforces that the organization sees something worth developing. He is in the early stages of his big-league career, but Young is already 32 years old. 

Atlanta finished 94-68 and won the NL East before falling to the Dodgers in the NLDS. The front office has a tough offseason ahead as it looks to address the pitching staff, the shortstop position and an offense that struggled to produce in October.

This figures to be just the first step in what will be a busy few months for a Braves team that believes its window remains wide open despite another early postseason exit.