The Atlanta Braves have signed free-agent pitcher Taylor Widener to a minor-league deal. The right-hander spent the 2023 season overseas pitching for the NC Dinos and the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization but will return to the big leagues after pitching for the D-backs from 2020-2022. Widener posted a decent 4.26 ERA across 49 appearances (13 starts) with the D-backs in that span but a 4.68 SIERA, 5.54 FIP, 34.1% ground-ball rate, and elevated 11% walk rate suggest he was rather fortunate to post that solid ERA. He will likely serve as a bullpen/spot starter depth piece with a potential swingman role in his future in the Braves organization.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taylor Widener put up a solid outing against the Padres on Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings of work in a 6-2 loss. It was the first time since April that he pitched five full innings, as he had gone 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA and 2.035 WHIP over his last five starts entering Saturday. He had looked good back in April, but injuries cost him most of May and all of June, and likely had an impact on his performance in July. Hopefully this is the beginning of a turnaround, and he could be a decent streaming option going forward. He's in line for another matchup with the Padres in his next start, and may be worth consideration as a streaming option in deeper formats.