Braves re-sign relievers Penn Murfee and Jackson Stephens for 2024
The Atlanta Braves have signed relievers Penn Murfee and Jackson Stephens to split contracts for 2024, the team announced.
A "split" contract is a convertible contract that has two salaries - one for time in the minors and one for time in the majors.
Stephens, 29, has spent the last two years with Atlanta after being non-tendered by the Cincinnati Reds after the 2019 season. Appearing in 44 games, he's 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA. A frequent long man out of the pen, Stephens missed time in 2023 thanks to a late-season elbow injury.
Murfee, also 29, was claimed off of waivers by Atlanta on November 14th and non-tendered days later. Previously with the Seattle Mariners, he's 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 80 career major league appearances across the previous two seasons, striking out 92 in that span.
Murfee, who possessed a fantastic "sweeper", was shut down by Seattle in June and later underwent season-ending elbow surgery that will hold him out for some time in 2024, as well. It's not believed to be full Tommy John Surgery, but it was a procedure to the ulnar collateral ligament.
Both relievers, when healthy, will provide valuable organizational depth and insurance for the Braves relief corps. Atlanta has focused heavily on bullpen depth this off-season, bringing back Pierce Johnson and Joe Jimenez, trading for Aaron Bummer and Jackson Kowar, and signing Reynaldo Lopez in free agency.
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