According to Jeff Jones of The Belleville News-Democrat, the Braves signed outfielder Michael Siani off waivers from the Cardinals. Additionally, St. Louis selected Bryan Torres for the 40-man roster and outrighted left-handed pitchers Anthony Veneziano and Zack Thompson.
Siani, a 26-year-old center fielder, prioritizes his glove. Although he participated in portions of four major league seasons, he didn’t see much action until 2024. In 124 games that year, the lefty batter recorded a.228/.285/.285 slash, two home runs, and 20 steals. This past season, Siani appeared in just 19 major league games. He played most of the season in Triple-A Memphis, where he struggled to a batting line of.209/.307/.329 in 430 at-bats. Siani plays outstanding outfield defense and has stolen 28 bases, but there are serious concerns about his hitting. Remanning is his only minor league alternative.
After ten years in the professional ranks, Torres, 28, is given a seat on the 40-man roster. He is a 5’7″ utility outfielder who alternated between the corner outfield positions and second base. With Memphis, the lefty-hitting Torres enjoyed a breakthrough season, batting.328/.441/.464 and walked more than he struck out. If the Cardinals hadn’t added him to the 40-man roster, he would have become a seven-year minor league free agency tonight.
Following their unclaimed waivers, Veneziano and Thompson will both become minor league free agents. Veneziano, a 28-year-old who tossed four innings of two-run ball for the Cards, was a late-season waiver claim from Miami. With 40 2/3 career frames, his ERA is 3.98. In 2019, Thompson, 28, was selected in the first round from the University of Kentucky. Due to a torn lat, he missed the entire 2025 season.