ATLANTA -- The Adam Walker waiver claim game ended on Tuesday, when the Braves gained their wish to keep the power-hitting outfielder in their system without having to carry him on their 40-man roster.
Walker was outrighted to the Braves' Triple-A Gwinnett roster after he passed through waivers for the first time this offseason.
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The 25-year-old had been claimed off waivers by three different teams -- the Brewers, Orioles and Braves -- since Thanksgiving.
When the Braves claimed Walker off waivers from the Orioles last week, they simply viewed it as a $50,000 (waiver claim fee) chance to add a power bat to their system. But they never intended to keep him on their 40-man roster and thus knew there was a possibility he could be lost when they made Walker available by trying to get him through waivers.
The Braves 40-man roster now includes 39 players. It doesn't appear they have plans to imminently fill this void. Instead, they'll likely use the flexibility to expand their options as they decided whether to add another potential bench candidate.
Walker batted .243 with 27 home runs and a .784 OPS for Minnesota's Triple-A Rochester affiliate last season. He has tallied at least 25 home runs during each of his first four full seasons in the Minors. But he has also produced a 2.54 walk-to-strikeout ratio as he has struck out 744 times and drawn 189 walks through 2,449 plate appearances.
While collecting 560 plate appearances with Double-A Chattanooga in 2015, Walker tallied a career-high 31 homers, struck out 195 times and drew 51 walks. The 27 homers last season were tarnished by the fact he also struck out 202 times and drew 44 walks over 531 plate appearances.