Braves claim Jesse Biddle

The Atlanta Braves have claimed LHP Jesse Biddle off waivers from the Pirates.  The Bucs had placed him on waivers to clear 40-man roster space for newly signed third baseman David Freese.  They were hoping to re-sign Biddle to a minor league contract, but Atlanta torpedoed that plan.

Biddle was originally a first-round draft pick of the Phillies.  He figured on various top 100 prospect lists for several years, but his ascent to the majors stalled beginning in 2014 due to a combination of control and injury problems.  He'll miss all of the 2016 season as a result of Tommy John surgery, but the Pirates were hoping to hang onto him through his rehab efforts and get a look at him in 2017.  They had acquired Biddle from the Phillies for reliever Yoervis Medina, after the Phillies had designated Biddle for assignment.  They had acquired Medina in turn for Kevin Bacon as a waiver claim from the Cubs.