Now let's get into the four remaining arb-eligible players for Atlanta. I'll detail my reasoning for each, but I'm guessing each of these guys are non-tendered by November 22, and hit free agency.
It's not a certainty however, and Alex Anthopoulos could create an avenue to find playing time for a couple of these players. If there's a pathway to that and AA feels he can get an on-field value greater than their projected salary then don't be surprised if we publish another story about how I was wrong.
Huascar Ynoa (projected $825 thousand)
The first version of Huscar Ynoa the Braves got would be well worth this projected figure. Sadly, Ynoa has battled injury every year since 2021. Last season was his his chance to reclaim a role with the club, but the stuff simply wasn't the same.
Not only that, Ynoa battled numerous injuries last season as well. Entering 2025 it feels best to cut ties with this relationship as Ynoa has been surpassed by many other rising young arms in the Braves farm system.
Cavan Biggio (projected $4.3 million)
This will probably be Anthopoulos' least stressful decision. Biggio was acquired off the scrap-heap after the Braves continued to get plummeted with injuries. The service time he racked up with Toronto now lends itself to a higher projected arb number. And anything in seven figures is something the Braves can't justify for a minor league depth infielder.
Eli White (projected $800 thousand)
The former Clemson University product Eli White possesses some very real tools that can help a MLB team. The Braves saw that last season in spurts when White was asked to pinch-run and serve as a defensive replacement for Jorge Soler.
White's projected salary is also a figure that could be justified into carrying given his athleticism. However, if the Braves make Kelenic the fourth outfielder it's hard to talk yourself into paying White to ride the bench. Backup outfielder is also a spot where we typically see Anthopoulos grab a body someime into spring training. Because of all those factors I think White is also non-tendered.
Ramon Laureano ($6.1 million)
Finally we arrive at the player who has drawn the most questions surrounding his role in 2025. Ramon Laureano was spectacular when the Braves picked him up from Cleveland summer. He played so well that he basically became the everyday left fielder for the Braves down the stretch.
Although Laureano was performing well in the most important games for Atlanta, it still feels like the Braves want to aim higher with their choice for starting left fielder in 2025. Laureano serving as a fourth outfielder would be ideal, but his projected $6 million arbitration cost will probably scare AA off from bringing him back in 2025.
While I do think Laureano will be non-tendered, he is only one I feel Anthopoulos could circle back to in February should he feel the team still needs outfield depth. Laureano's 2024 numbers could be enough to land him a starting job with another team. He's a good player with real tools, but some of his underlying numbers suggest he was living right with his batted ball luck last season.
When you factor in all of these things it feels like enough to make Anthopoulos want to aim higher and bring in a more proven outfielder to stablize the unit along with Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuna Jr.
Launch mode for Ramón Laureano🚀 pic.twitter.com/NPNLtYl8xL
— Braves On FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSNBraves) August 14, 2024