Braves Acquire Pitcher Víctor Mederos in Trade with Angels

Atlanta adds pitching depth by trading for the right-hander, who was recently designated for assignment by Los Angeles.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:28pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes that deconstruct the action into an abstract, conceptual representation.A cubist interpretation of a pitcher's delivery captures the dynamic motion and energy of the game.Los Angeles Today

The Atlanta Braves have acquired right-handed pitcher Víctor Mederos from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for international bonus pool money. Mederos, who has spent time in the Angels' minor league system and made a handful of MLB appearances over the past three seasons, has been optioned to the Braves' Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett. In a corresponding move, the Braves have transferred pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver to the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

Why it matters

The trade for Mederos provides the Braves with additional pitching depth in their minor league system, giving them another option to potentially contribute at the major league level if needed. With Smith-Shawver still recovering from injury, the Braves are looking to bolster their pitching resources ahead of the upcoming season.

The details

Mederos, 24, was recently designated for assignment by the Angels after allowing seven earned runs in three innings of work for their Triple-A affiliate this season. He has a career 8.53 ERA and 2.01 WHIP in 12 MLB appearances, including three starts. However, he did post a respectable 3.39 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Salt Lake last year. Mederos features a mid-90s sinker as his primary pitch, complemented by a slider and sweeper. The Braves are hoping they can help him regain the form he showed in the minors and potentially contribute at the big league level down the line.

  • On March 29, Mederos was designated for assignment by the Angels.
  • Mederos made one appearance for the Angels' Triple-A affiliate this season, allowing seven earned runs in three innings pitched.

The players

Víctor Mederos

A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher who has spent time in the Angels' minor league system and made a handful of MLB appearances over the past three seasons.

AJ Smith-Shawver

A Braves pitching prospect who was recently transferred to the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

Atlanta Braves

The MLB team that acquired Víctor Mederos from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for international bonus pool money.

Los Angeles Angels

The MLB team that traded Víctor Mederos to the Atlanta Braves.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Mederos will report to the Braves' Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett, where the team will look to help him regain his form and potentially contribute at the major league level later in the season.

The takeaway

This trade represents a low-risk, high-upside move for the Braves, who are adding pitching depth to their organization by acquiring a young arm with some major league experience. While Mederos has struggled at times, the Braves are hoping they can help him unlock his potential and provide additional rotation or bullpen options as the season progresses.