ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves reached an agreement with free agent Jorge Mateo on a one-year, $1 million contract Monday, adding depth to their roster following an injury to shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.
The signing comes one day after the Braves announced that Kim is expected to miss four to five months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger. Mateo’s ability to play both the infield and outfield gives Atlanta added flexibility as it navigates the early part of the season without Kim.
Mateo, 30, appeared in 42 games for the Baltimore Orioles last season, batting .177 with one home run and three RBIs across 83 plate appearances. His season was limited after he missed nearly three months between June and September due to left elbow inflammation.
A six-year MLB veteran, Mateo owns a career .221 batting average with 30 home runs and 121 RBIs, having spent time with both the San Diego Padres and the Orioles. He earned $3.55 million in 2024, and Baltimore declined his $5.5 million team option for this season.
With Kim sidelined for an extended period, the Braves are turning to Mateo as a short-term solution to help stabilize their lineup and provide defensive versatility across multiple positions.
