If you are an Atlanta Braves fan and you are not familiar with Ian Hamilton, you are forgiven. Hamilton was once a standout reliever with the Yankees, but he regressed in 2025, and New York ultimately decided to non-tender him this past November. About a month later, the Braves swooped in and gave Hamilton a shot on a non-guaranteed deal.
Normally, Hamilton wouldn't merit much of a mention. The Braves gave him a shot, he struggled in limited action this spring, and Atlanta ultimately managed to sneak him through waivers and just sent him to Triple-A Gwinnett.
However, the timing of the Braves' move matters here. By successfully getting Hamilton through the waiver wire, Atlanta just cleared a spot on their 40-man roster that could mean we could see some changes in the coming days.
Braves outrighting Ian Hamilton off the 40-man sets stage for last-minute shopping spree
We know with certainty that the Braves want as much pitching depth as they can get their hands on, as long as the price is reasonable. So far this spring, Atlanta has been strangely quiet on this front as more and more cuts have been made from other camps, which one would think they would try to take advantage of. That could now easily change starting this weekend.
With Hamilton off the 40-man roster, the Braves now have two open spots available. No, Lucas Giolito is still probably not on the table, but it does make signing new players relatively easy from a roster management perspective. Veteran players in camp on non-guaranteed deals can opt out of their deals on Saturday, and it is very possible that the Braves have their eye on a couple of players and want to be ready.
As to which players they could be targeting, that is anyone's guess, as there are a host of options around the league that might become available. The first step is figuring out exactly who decides to opt out this weekend. After that, Atlanta has to decide if they are going to strike a last-minute signing or two, or just keep the roster space available for later on.