The Braves selected left-hander Ray Kerr to the 40-man roster on August 16, 2026, and designated Danny Young for assignment, a move that gives the bullpen a fresh arm while opening the door for a possible roster shuffle later. Atlanta had an open spot on the 40-man roster after the change.
The timing mattered because the Braves bullpen had carried a 4.89 ERA since the All-Star break, and the club needed another left-handed option after Raisel Iglesias had allowed runs in three of his five most recent appearances. Kerr, 31, had been with the Braves organization since 2024 and had just finished a brief rehab stop at Triple-A Gwinnett after Tommy John surgery interrupted his season.
Young’s path back had looked promising not long ago. He came off the 60-day injured list on July 3, then put together a 2.08 ERA in 8 2/3 innings across 12 July appearances, striking out eight hitters and walking eight. That run gave Atlanta a useful bridge piece while he continued to work back from reconstructive elbow surgery and a split deal that pays him $925K for any time in the majors.
August changed the picture quickly. Young gave up nine earned runs on nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings across four appearances, including three earned runs in an inning of mop-up duty in the Braves' 10-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on August 15. In other words, the same arm that looked settled in July no longer held up over a full week of work.
That is where the roster rules now take over. Young has less than two years of service time, so if he clears waivers the Braves can outright him again; he can accept that assignment or reject it and elect free agency. He was outrighted by the Braves in 2022 during his previous stint with the team, and he has thrown 20 2/3 innings between the Mets and Braves dating back to 2025.
Kerr’s role is clearer, at least for now. He had posted a 5.64 ERA in 22 1/3 innings before Tommy John surgery in the middle of the season, missed 2025 while rehabbing, and was activated off the minor league injured list on July 29, 2026. With Young designated and the bullpen still searching for stability, Kerr gets the next look, while Young’s future depends on whether he stays in the organization or chooses a clean break.
