Braves Drop Danny Young: 40-Man Roster Shakeup Begins
Braves Send Pitcher Danny Young to Triple-A: What Happened and What It Means
The Big News in Simple Terms
The Atlanta Braves have sent left-handed pitcher Danny Young down to their Triple-A team in Gwinnett. Think of Triple-A as the "minor leagues" — one step below the big leagues. This move happened because Young cleared waivers after the Braves tried to remove him from their 40-man roster last week.
Important Point:
Clearing waivers means no other MLB team wanted to claim him when the Braves made him available. So he stays in the Braves organization — just not on the major league roster.
How Did We Get Here? (The Step-by-Step Story)
-
2025 Season with the Mets
Young pitched for the New York Mets but tore a ligament in his elbow in May. He needed Tommy John surgery (a common elbow reconstruction for pitchers). -
Becoming a Free Agent
After the season, the Mets non-tendered him — meaning they didn’t offer him a contract for next year. He became a free agent. -
Braves Take a Chance
Atlanta signed him while he was still recovering, hoping he’d be healthy and helpful later in 2026. -
Return from Injury
Young came off the injured list on July 3 and made 16 appearances for the Braves. -
Struggles on the Mound
- 8.03 ERA (earned run average — higher is worse)
- Walked 13 of 65 batters (a 20% walk rate — very high)
- Also hit 3 batters and threw a wild pitch
- Strikeout rate was near average, but control was a big problem
-
Designated for Assignment (DFA)
The Braves removed him from the 40-man roster to make room for someone else. - Cleared Waivers → Outright to Gwinnett
No team claimed him, so he was sent outright to Triple-A.
What Happens Now? Young Has a Choice
Because Young has been outrighted before in his career, he has a special right: he can reject this assignment and become a free agent right now.
But there’s a catch.
The Money Situation
| Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| Major Leagues | $925,000 |
| Triple-A (Minors) | $400,000 |
| Triple-A Minimum | $35,800 |
Young signed a split contract — different pay depending on where he plays. His minor league salary ($400K) is over 10x the Triple-A minimum.
Callout: The Risk of Walking Away
If Young rejects the assignment and chooses free agency:
- He forfeits the rest of his $400K minor league salary
- He has less than 5 years of MLB service time, so he must give up the money to leave
- He’d likely only get minor league offers from other teams — because he just cleared waivers (no one wanted him for free)
If He Stays (Reports to Gwinnett)
- Keeps earning $400K for the rest of the season
- Gets a chance to fix his control issues in a lower-pressure setting
- Becomes a free agent at season’s end if not added back to the 40-man roster
The Bigger Picture: Who Is Danny Young?
Before 2026, Young had a solid MLB track record:
- 60 ⅔ innings pitched
- 4.01 ERA (respectable)
- 29% strikeout rate (good)
- 9.3% walk rate (very good — much better than this year’s 20%)
- 53.3% ground ball rate (helps prevent home runs)
He’s not a bad pitcher — he’s a guy coming back from major surgery who lost his command. A stint in Triple-A could help him regain it.
Summary
- Danny Young was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett after clearing waivers.
- He can reject it and go free, but would lose $400K and likely only get minor league deals.
- Smart money says he reports — keeps the paycheck, works on his control, tries to earn a call-up.
- If not back on the 40-man roster by season’s end, he’s a free agent this winter.
- His past numbers show he can pitch — this year was likely rust from Tommy John recovery.
FAQ
Q: What is "outrighted" in baseball?
A: It means a player is removed from the 40-man roster and sent to the minors without other teams having a chance to claim him (because he already cleared waivers).
Q: What’s a split contract?
A: A deal that pays one salary in the majors and a different (usually much lower) one in the minors. Young’s is unusually high for the minors — $400K vs. the $35.8K minimum.
Q: Why would a player reject an outright assignment?
A: To become a free agent and sign with another team. But players with <5 years MLB service must forfeit remaining salary to do so — so it’s rare.
Q: What is Tommy John surgery?
A: A surgery to replace a torn elbow ligament (UCL) with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. Common for pitchers; recovery takes 12–18 months.
Q: Can Young still help the Braves this year?
A: Yes — if he pitches well in Gwinnett, the Braves can add him back to the 40-man roster and call him up in September when rosters expand.