The Pirates reassigned Heller to minor-league camp Sunday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
The 32-year-old holds a 3.06 ERA over 50 career relief appearances at the big-league level over parts of five seasons, but his resume wasn't enough to win him a spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen. After missing much of the 2021 and 2022 seasons while recovering from arm injuries, Heller enjoyed good health in 2023, but control proved to be a concern for him at both the major-league and Triple-A levels. He'll likely need to string together some quality outings at Triple-A Indianapolis early on in the season to garner a look in Pittsburgh.
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Pirates' Ben Heller: Gets minors deal from Pirates
Rotowire
Heller signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Heller, 32, posted a 3.86 ERA and 16:11 K:BB over 18.2 innings in 2023 with Atlanta. He'll provide Pittsburgh with some right-handed relief depth.
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Ben Heller: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Heller elected to become a free agent Thursday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Heller was removed from Atlanta's 40-man roster this week and has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The reliever collected a 3.86 ERA and 16:11 K:BB over 18.2 innings in 2023.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta outrighted Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Heller returned to the majors this year for the first time since 2020 but struggled with his command while posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 16:11 K:BB over 18.2 innings of relief for the NL East champs. He is no longer part of the 40-man roster in Atlanta.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Dispatched to Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta optioned Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Heller's latest stint with Atlanta lasted just three days, with the veteran right-hander making two relief appearances and tossing 2.1 scoreless frames. Atlanta recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd from Triple-A to make a spot start Saturday versus the Pirates, but Dodd returned to Gwinnett a day later.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Heller was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Heller was just sent down Tuesday but is back a day later to take Michael Soroka's (forearm) spot on the roster. He'll operate in middle relief.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Heads back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Heller was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
Heller has posted a 4.41 ERA and 14:10 K:BB across 16.1 relief frames with Atlanta this season. He'll exit the 28-man active roster to make room for right-hander Michael Soroka, who was recalled from Gwinnett ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday versus the Cardinals.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Returns from Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Heller from Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
He joined the 28-man active roster as a replacement for right-hander Darius Vines, who was demoted to Gwinnett in a corresponding move. In 14.1 innings out of the Atlanta bullpen this season, Heller has pitched to a 4.40 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 14:9 K:BB.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Returns to Triple-A
Rotowire
Heller was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after Wednesday's win over the Angels.
The right-hander has been up with the big club since mid-June and posted a 4.40 ERA in 16 outings, but he'll head back to the minors with Max Fried (forearm) set to return from the injured list Friday. Heller could rejoin the major-league bullpen when Atlanta requires a fresh arm.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Collects first hold
Rotowire
Heller retired the only batter he faced Monday to record his first hold of the season in a win over the Twins.
Most of Atlanta's high-leverage options were getting the day off after a heavy workload over the weekend, so Heller was brought in to get the final out of the eighth inning in a 4-1 game. It's only the second hold of the 31-year-old's career, with his first coming as a rookie in 2016 with the Yankees. Since joining the Atlanta bullpen in mid-June, Heller has an impressive nine strikeouts in 4.1 innings, but they come with four walks and a 1.85 WHIP.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Atlanta recalled Heller from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
The 31-year-old right-hander will fill the bullpen spot left vacant by Jesse Chavez, who has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a severe shin contusion. Heller was recently acquired from the Rays in exchange for international bonus pool. He hasn't appeared in a major-league game since 2020.
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Braves' Ben Heller: Acquired by ATL
Rotowire
Atlanta acquired Heller from the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for international bonus pool money and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Heller was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay this past Friday, having been stuck in a holding pattern at Triple-A Durham. The 31-year-old right-hander hasn't appeared in a game at the MLB level since 2020.
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Rays' Ben Heller: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Rays designated Heller for assignment Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Just over a week after being selected from Triple-A Durham, the 31-year-old righty will lose his spot on the Rays' 40-man roster following the acquisition of Robert Stephenson from Pittsburgh. Heller holds a 3.95 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in Triple-A this season through 27.1 innings and could be claimed by another team in need of organizational bullpen depth.
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Rays' Ben Heller: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Heller was optioned to Triple-A Durham by the Rays on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Heller was with the big club for just one day and didn't make an appearance. He's clearing out for Jake Diekman's return from paternity leave.
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Rays' Ben Heller: Contract selected from Durham
Rotowire
Tampa Bay selected Heller's contract from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Heller will get a chance to pitch in the majors for the first time since 2020 after the right-hander forged a 3.91 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 23 innings in his 16 appearances for Durham. He'll take the roster spot of Zack Burdi, who was designated for assignment in the corresponding transaction.
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Rays' Ben Heller: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Tampa Bay reassigned Heller to minor-league camp Thursday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Heller has previously made 31 relief appearances in the big leagues, but none have come since 2020 and he's pitched just 8.2 innings in total in affiliated ball over the past two seasons while tending to arm-related injuries. He'll need to stay healthy and pitch effectively at Triple-A Durham for an extended period before getting a look in Tampa Bay's bullpen.
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Rays' Ben Heller: Links up with Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Heller and the Rays agreed Wednesday on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to MLB spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Heller has previously made 31 relief appearances in the majors, but none over the past two seasons while missing extensive time due to arm-related injuries. He pitched just 8.2 innings in the minors as a member of the Twins organization in 2022 and surrendered nine earned runs on nine hits and 10 walks.
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Ben Heller: Cut loose by Minnesota
Rotowire
The Twins released Heller from his minor-league contract Sunday.
Heller was one of three veteran relievers with prior MLB experience whom the Twins cut loose Sunday, with Tyler Thornburg and Juan Minaya also receiving their walking papers. The 31-year-old right-hander spent most of the season on the injured list before debuting from Triple-A St. Paul on Aug. 5 and allowing five runs (four earned) over 1.2 innings across three appearances.
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Twins' Ben Heller: Finds work with Minnesota
Rotowire
Heller announced Tuesday via his personal Twitter account that he signed a minor-league contract with the Twins.
The 30-year-old right-hander totaled 31 appearances in the big leagues with the Yankees from 2016 through 2020, but he's been out of action for nearly two years since suffering a stress fracture of his elbow while he was attending spring training with the Diamondbacks in 2021. His signing with the Twins is an indication that he's healthy again, but due to his extended absence, Heller will likely need to ramp up at extended spring training for several weeks before he's assigned to one of the Twins' upper-level affiliates.
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Diamondbacks' Ben Heller: Signs with Diamondbacks
Rotowire
Heller (biceps) signed a minor-league deal with Arizona on Saturday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Heller recently passed through waivers unclaimed, so it's no surprise he had to settle for a minor-league contract. Heller owns a 2.59 ERA in 31.1 career innings at the major-league level, though that's not remotely supported by his 5.57 FIP. He threw just six major-league innings last season before ending the season on the injured list with a biceps nerve injury. It's not clear whether or not the injury is still affecting him.
