The Atlanta Braves have several players that will go through arbitration this offseason, here are the ones they should not tender a contract to.
If the Atlanta Braves are looking for ways to cut payroll this offseason in order to re-sign Freddie Freeman and possibly make another big splash or two, then non-tendering some players could be a way to get that done.
MLB Trade Rumors is pretty good every year with their projected arbitration numbers.
Right now they list the Braves with 15 arbitration-eligible players who are projected to make a combined $52.2 million.
Obviously, they aren’t going to non-tender all 15 and save $50 million. But I do believe there are several on here who it would make sense to non-tender and save some money.
Let’s start with the obvious ones the Braves should keep: Dansby Swanson ($10.1M), Luke Jackson ($3.8M), A.J. Minter ($2.1M), Max Fried ($7.1M), Tyler Matzek ($1.5M), and Austin Riley ($4.3M).
That’s six-of-15 for $28.9 million.
And the obvious ones they should let go: Grant Dayton ($1.2M), Edgar Santana ($1M), and Guillermo Heredia ($1.6M)
That’s three players for a savings of $3.8 million.
Much was made from the Mark Bowman article suggestion the Braves could non-tender Mike Soroka. I think it’s worth the $3 million risk as he still has the potential to be a top of rotation pitcher.
Adam Duvall is probably another hot topic one, and I actually would not tender him a contract at $9 million.
That’s mainly because I’d rather have back Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, or even Joc Pederson over Duvall at that price.
It wouldn’t be a shock if they non-tendered Orlando Arcia, but I like having him as infield depth. I believe he’s out of minor league options, though.
Richard Rodriguez is an interesting one as well. Three million is a lot for someone who you didn’t even trust on your postseason roster.
If they keep him, it’s only out of pride because they traded for him.
I think Johan Camargo and Sean Newcomb could be non-tendered if the Braves aren’t able to trade them. Both seem like solid trade candidates.
Camargo just needs a place where he can play. And Newcomb needs a change of scenery.
If they really wanted to save money, they could non-tender Duvall ($9.1M), Dayton ($1.2M), Arcia ($2.1M), Heredia ($1.6M), Rodriguez ($3.1M), Camargo ($1.4M), Newcomb ($900K), and Santana ($1M).
They’ve already cut Dayton and Santana. But if they non-tender or trade all of those players, which they won’t, but they could save $20.5 million.
That should be enough to get the Freddie Freeman deal done, right? Let me know in the comments who you would non-tender this offseason and why.