ATLANTA — Outfielder Ramón Laureano earned a spot within the Braves’ beginning lineup after being launched by the Guardians this 12 months. Proper-hander Griffin Canning got here to the group in a commerce virtually instantly after the top of the World Collection. However the anticipated price for each in 2025 exceeded Atlanta’s consolation zone.
So, Laureano and Canning joined the free-agent market after the Braves non-tendered them on Friday, in addition to pitchers Huascar Ynoa, Royber Salinas and Ray Kerr. The group’s different arbitration-eligible gamers — left-handed reliever Dylan Lee, outfielder Eli White and outfielder Jarred Kelenic — had been tendered contracts for the 2025 season.
The Braves’ want for an outfielder was not too long ago enhanced by the revelation Ronald Acuña Jr. might miss the season’s first two months whereas recovering from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. Michael Harris II, Kelenic and Laureano had been the almost certainly inside choices to fill the three outfield spots.
However with Laureano anticipated to make roughly $6 million by way of arbitration, the Braves opted to search for a distinct possibility.
Laureano was claimed by the Guardians after being designated for project by the A’s in August 2023. He averted arbitration by signing a one-year $5.15 million cope with Cleveland final offseason. However he was launched after producing a .494 OPS over 83 plate appearances for the Guardians.
Needing an outfielder after Acuña was injured on Could 26, the Braves gave Laureano a Minor League deal and promoted him to the Majors after he produced a 1.028 OPS over 14 video games with Triple-A Gwinnett.
Laureano hit .296 with a .832 OPS over 67 video games for Atlanta. He steadily earned extra enjoying time and by the point September arrived he had develop into the group’s on a regular basis left fielder.
Canning wound up spending even much less time within the group. He got here to the Braves in an Oct. 31 commerce for Jorge Soler, however Canning, who made $2.6 million this season and produced a 5.91 ERA in 32 outings (31 begins), was not a part of Atlanta’s future plans. The group did save vital cash on the deal, nevertheless, contemplating Soler was due $32 million over the following two seasons.
Ynoa created a whole lot of buzz when he posted a 3.02 ERA over his first 9 appearances (eight begins) of the 2021 season. However he has been affected by accidents since Could 16, 2021, when he broke his proper hand after punching the dugout bench in Milwaukee. He produced a 5.05 ERA over the 9 begins he made after returning that 12 months and made simply two extra ineffective large league begins the next season.
Ynoa underwent Tommy John surgical procedure after producing a 5.68 ERA over 18 appearances (17 begins) for Gwinnett in 2022. He missed all the 2023 season after which posted a 6.15 ERA in 12 appearances (5 begins) for Gwinnett this 12 months.
Kerr appeared in 10 video games out of the bullpen this season, whereas Salinas has but to make his large league debut.
The Braves additionally introduced Friday that they employed Hugh Quattlebaum and promoted Carlos Méndez to assistant hitting coach roles below Tim Hyers.
Quattlebaum, 46, has labored in varied hitting coach and developmental roles for the Diamondbacks, Mets and Mariners during the last seven years. That is his first full-time place on a Main League teaching workers. Méndez, 50, has spent the final 17 seasons teaching within the Braves’ Minor League system.
