Pitcher Víctor Mederos joined a new organization this Friday, April 3, when the Los Angeles Angels traded him to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for international bonus pool space. The news was reported in statements issued by both clubs.
According to the colleague Francys Romero, the bonus pool space exchanged amounted to $250,000—the maximum amount permitted under the regulations. As a result of this move, the Braves placed pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver on the 60-day injured list, added Mederos to their 40-man roster, and assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers.
Mederos, a native of Villa Clara, had logged only one previous start in the 2026 campaign. This took place on Triple-A Opening Day—last Friday, March 27—an occasion on which he was tasked with serving as the starting pitcher for the Salt Lake Bees, the Angels’ affiliate at the highest level of the Minor Leagues.
Regrettably, he was unable to successfully fulfill that responsibility and was charged with the loss following three innings of work, during which he surrendered eight hits and seven runs—all earned. He issued more walks (3) than strikeouts recorded (2), posting alarming figures with both his ERA (21.00) and WHIP (3.67).
Mederos has seen action in three seasons of experience in the Major Leagues (2023–2025), all with the Angels. In 12 appearances (nine of them as a reliever), he holds a record of 0–3, with an ERA of 8.53 over 25.1 innings—recording nearly the same number of strikeouts as walks (22–21)—along with a WHIP of 2.01.
Consequently, that is where he will begin his tenure within the Braves’ minor league system, aiming to impress club management with his performance and earn another opportunity to play in the best baseball league in the world.