Braves sign veteran reliever Jason Frasor after Jason Grilli injury

The Atlanta Braves have agreed to a deal with veteran free agent relief pitcher Jason Frasor.

The Atlanta Braves will sign veteran relief pitcher Jason Frasor, the team announced Friday.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports was first to report the news, followed by Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Frasor, who turns 38 on Aug. 9, had a 1.54 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings for the Kansas City Royals before being designated for assignment earlier this month. The right-hander elected to become a free agent after passing through waivers. 

The Braves have the second-worst bullpen ERA in the majors and just lost their closer, Jason Grilli, for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Jim Johnson, his likely replacement, had a 7.09 ERA and 1.95 WHIP last season, but has pitched considerably better this year with a 2.09 ERA in 43 innings. 

Frasor holds a 3.52 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over parts of 12 major league seasons with the Blue Jays, Royals, Rangers and White Sox.

The Braves are currently 42–47, seven games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East and six games out of the NL Wild Card. 

- Dan Gartland