ATLANTA -- Looking to add depth to their relief corps, the Braves have signed six-year Minor League free agent Juan Abreu. The 24-year-old right-hander has been added to the team's 40-man roster.

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Abreu, who spent each of his previous four professional seasons in the Royals' organization, posted a 3.67 ERA, recorded 16 saves and registered a 1.47 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the 41 2/3 innings he combined to complete with Class A Advanced Wilmington and Double-A Northern Arkansas this past season.

After posting a 1.69 ERA and recording 28 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings at Wilmington, Abreu struggled at the Double-A level. In the 20 1/3 innings for Northern Arkansas, the right-hander posted a 5.75 ERA and recorded 25 strikeouts while issuing 22 walks.

The control issues experienced by Abreu this past season erased some of the optimism he created in 2008, when he recorded 104 strikeouts and issued 42 walks in 76 1/3 innings with Class A Burlington.

The Braves now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.