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Braves sign former Astros, Yankees veteran outfielder
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Braves sign former Astros, Yankees veteran outfielder originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Atlanta Braves are not one of the teams expected to be big spenders this winter, but they are looking to address a few key spots on the team.
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Shortstop is the big priority, but the Braves are also looking to make a few additions elsewhere to round out the roster. Depth additions are important, and the Braves recently made one such move.
According to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball , the Braves are signing a former Houston Astros and New York Yankees veteran outfielder to a one-year deal.
Braves sign former Astros, Yankees journeyman outfielder
"The Braves and outfielder Ben Gamel have agreed to a minor league deal, sources tell @JustBB_Media," Leighton reported.
Gamel spent the 2025 season in the minor leagues with the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels . While he was "battling injuries" as Leighton reports, when he played, he posted a .914 OPS with eight home runs in 49 games played.
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His last MLB stint was with the Astros in 2024, where he played in 20 games, hitting .259 with a .739 OPS and a strong 113 OPS+. Across his nine-year MLB career, Gamel has played for eight different teams.
More: Twins' $100M 2-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner open to waiving no-trade clause for Braves
Gamel began his career with the Yankees back in 2016, where he played just six games before being moved to the Seattle Mariners . After a few years there, he joined the Milwaukee Brewers , then the Cleveland Guardians , followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates , San Diego Padres , New York Mets , before his stint in 2024 with the Astros.
The 33-year-old will be entering his 10th MLB season if he suits up for the Braves in 2026, but with his current deal being a minor league one, he will need to prove his worth in Spring Training to get a shot at the MLB roster.
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This is an interesting signing for the Braves, as the veteran outfielder with a career .716 OPS and 96 OPS+ would be a solid bench piece for Atlanta in 2026.
