Stults' contract was purchased by the Braves on Sunday, MLB.com reports. Stults was already in line to serve as the Braves' No. 4 starter to begin the year, so this move is merely procedural.

Stults will start the Braves' home opener, Apr. 10 against the Mets, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Wandy Rodriguez's released effectively cemented Stults into the rotation, but the team confirmed Friday that Stults will be the No. 4 starter to begin the season. Meanwhile, Trevor Cahill, whom the Braves acquired from the Diamondbacks on Thursday, will be in the bullpen until the team needs a fifth starter Apr. 15. Stults posted a 1.89 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB in 19 Grapefruit League innings.

Stults is projected to fill the Braves' final rotation spot to begin the season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. While the Brave haven't announced anything just yet, Stults appears to be a lock to break camp with a rotation spot, with Wandy Rodriguez released by the team Friday. Stults posted a 1.89 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in five Grapefruit League outings but struck out just seven in 19 innings, which isn't surprising considering he hasn't exceeded 6.0 K/9 since 2008. Last season, the lefty went 8-17 for the Padres with a 4.50 ERA and 1.34 WHIP away from Petco Park.

Stults has positioned himself as a favorite to fill one of the Braves' two open rotation spots, MLB.com reports. Stults held the Tigers to just one hit over five scoreless innings Monday, lowering his spring ERA and WHIP to 1.89 and 1.11, respectively. Along with Stults, Wandy Rodriguez is the other top candidate to fill a rotation spot to begin the year, though there's a question as to whether the Braves want two similar lefties in the same rotation. The Braves have reportedly been talking to other clubs that have expressed interest in Rodriguez.

Stults was charged with two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk, striking out one over four innings, in his Grapefruit League appearances against the Blue Jays on Sunday. Now three appearance into the spring, Stults is sitting with a 2.00 ERA over nine innings, albeit with a 1.44 WHIP (11 hits allowed) and 2:2 K:BB. Mike Minor (shoulder) appears set to open the season on the DL, meaning there will be two open spots in the Braves' rotation to start the year. Stults and fellow lefty Wandy Rodriguez appear to be the frontrunners as of now, with both Mike Foltynewicz and Manny Banuelos struggling early on.

Stults signed a minor league contract with the Braves on Thursday that includes an invite to spring training, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Stults elected free agency from the Padres after being DFA'd in November, ending his two-year tenure with the club. The soft-tossing lefty was knocked around to the tune of a 4.30 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 176 innings last season, but he will provide some veteran security depth behind a young corps of starters in Atlanta.

Stults has elected to become a free agent, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Stults was designated for assignment, but elected to hit free agency rather than Triple-A El Paso. The 2014 campaign was the worst full season of his majors career, going 8-17 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.375 WHIP. He'll likely be able to find a home on another major league roster, but at 35 by the start of the 2015 season, his best days may be behind him.

Stults was designated for assignment Monday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Sults was DFA'd as part of a number of Padres' roster moves Monday. He endured a disappointing 2014 campaign, racking up 17 losses and posting a 4.30 ERA. His hit, home run and walk rates each increased one season after going 11-13 with a 3.93 ERA.

Stults held the Rockies scoreless for 6.1 innings in a 1-0 win Monday, scattering seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts. After carrying an ERA over 5.22 through July, Stults turned things around in the second half, sporting a 2.94 ERA over the past two months. The left-hander will end his season in San Francisco on Saturday.

Stults (7-17) gave up four runs on six hits with two strikeouts over 4.1 innings Wednesday in a loss to the Phillis. Stults tied A.J. Burnett with a league-worst 17th loss. The left-hander is second-to-last among qualifying starters, coughing up 1.44 homers per nine innings. The Padres must have some young arms that could be gaining valuable experience rather than throwing Stults out there every fifth day.