The Braves have signed right-handed pitcher Jose Cuas to a minor league contract, as noted on his MLB.com profile. Cuas, who has been assigned to Double-A, was previously part of the Phillies’ Triple-A team but was released earlier this month.
Turning 31 next month, Cuas made his professional debut with the Brewers in 2018 and reached the major leagues in 2022 while with the Royals after spending time in the minors with the Brewers, Diamondbacks, and the independent Long Island Ducks. He adopted a sidearm pitching style during his stint with the Ducks, which he carried into the majors, achieving a 3.58 ERA (115 ERA+) and a 4.39 FIP across 47 appearances for Kansas City in his rookie season.
Cuas continued with the Royals in the following year before being traded to the Cubs ahead of the 2023 trade deadline in a deal for outfielder Nelson Velazquez. He ended up with a 3.04 ERA in 23 2/3 innings for Chicago, but his 4.90 FIP, 19.0% strikeout rate, and 14.0% walk rate raised concerns about his performance. He began the 2024 season with the Cubs but was released after struggling to a 7.43 ERA with a 6.02 FIP in nine games. Shortly after, he was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays, where he allowed three runs in three innings with more walks than strikeouts before being picked up by the Phillies in September.
Cuas did not play in the majors for Philadelphia in 2024 and was later removed from the 40-man roster in January. He started the year with the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley but was released after posting a 13.50 ERA with more walks than strikeouts over seven outings. After a brief period without a contract, he found a new opportunity with Atlanta, where he will aim to address his control issues at the Double-A level.
If the Braves can tap into Cuas’s strong raw talent, he could become a valuable addition to their bullpen, which is currently in need of support. Raisel Iglesias is experiencing a career-worst season as the team’s closer, having previously excelled in that role. Although some pitchers like Daysbel Hernandez and Aaron Bummer have performed well, the bullpen’s overall 4.01 FIP ranks them among the weakest in the NL. Improving Iglesias will be crucial for revamping the relief staff, but if Cuas can regain form, he could provide much-needed depth as the Braves aim to fight back into playoff contention following a challenging start to the season. For now, he joins a group of non-roster depth options, which includes Craig Kimbrel and Jesse Chavez.
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