Braves sign Abraham Almonte to non-guaranteed deal, Charlie Culberson opts for free agency

The Atlanta Braves announced a series of roster moves Friday including the addition of outfielder Abraham Almonte on a non-guaranteed contract for the 2021 season. Atlanta also reinstated pitchers Mike Soroka, Jeremy Walker and Phil Pfeifer from the injured list. The team also announced that Charlie Culberson has elected to become a free agent.

Almonte is a 31 year old switch hitting outfielder who spent part of the 2020 season with the San Diego Padres with whom he appeared in seven games and saw 13 plate appearances. Atlanta will be his sixth team in his eight-year career. Almonte has appeared in 376 games at the major league level and is a career .237/.298/.370 hitter with career wRC+ of 80. His contract is non-guaranteed so he will be going to spring training in hopes of securing his spot.

Culberson would have been arbitration eligible had he stuck on the 40-man roster. With the announcement that he was electing free agency, he must have been outrighted off the roster earlier this week although there was no announcement. Culberson appeared in just 10 games and totaled just seven plate appearances with the Braves in 2020. He was added back to the 40-man roster for the postseason and got into three playoff games.

Reinstating Soroka, Pfeifer and Walker was a procedural move that we discussed in our run down of the 40-man roster earlier this week. Atlanta now has 34 players on their 40-man roster.