Here are all of the Braves players that will be free agents after the 2024 season
The Atlanta Braves have been pretty lucky to not have to replace a huge chunk of their team every offseason. However, this offseason, the Braves have a tall task in front of them as they have a good bit of players reaching free agency.
Most of the free agents are position players which shouldn't be surprising with how much Atlanta had to shuffle in players due to injuries in 2024. However, there are a few pitchers listed who will leave pretty big holes on the roster.
Let's examine all of the free agents Atlanta will need to consider this offseason.
Braves have a plethora of players reaching free agency after the 2024 season concludes
Max Fried
One of the biggest Braves free agents is left-handed ace Max Fried. Fried has been a staple in the Atlanta rotation for years and it's strange to imagine him leaving it. Unfortunately, that may be the case in 2025. The Braves have been unable to reach an extension with Fried this season and there's reason to believe he may not return.
Fans would be happy to see him return but the cost to keep him in Atlanta could be too steep. Max will be 31 years old next season so he will likely be looking for a contract that lasts five or six years. He also could ask for an AAV of around $30 million per season as the cost of quality starting pitching has skyrocketed in recent years.
Charlie Morton
It's been a bit of an up-and-down season for the 40-year-old veteran, Charlie Morton. He turns 41 before next season. Morton hasn't announced that he's retiring once the season ends but many believe this is his final season. He's been inconsistent for the Braves in 2024 but has provided the team with quality innings for the most part.
Morton has a 4.08 ERA through 29 games and 161 innings. He has 63 walks along with 164 punch outs. His curveball is still one of the best in baseball and his clubhouse presence is invaluable. If he were to call it quits after this season, it would cap an incredible 15-year journey for one of baseball's best human beings.
AJ Minter
It's strange to think that AJ Minter has reached free agency. He's been a huge part of the Braves bullpen since 2017 and helped the "Night Shift" lead the team to a World Series title in 2021. There have been ups and downs for Minter over the years but his career ERA of 3.28 with 123 walks and 422 strikeouts is impressive.
He would be an easy piece to add back into the mix and he fits with this clubhouse. He struggled with hip problems this year and was shut down in May to rest it. He returned to the bullpen in July and still didn't look right. AJ wasn't able to complete the season as he ended 2024 early with a hip injury that required surgery in August. His ERA this season was 2.62 with 11 walks and 35 strikeouts. So, there are injury concerns to consider before signing with him but there's a high likelihood he returns in 2025.
Jesse Chavez
Jesse Chavez is in a similar spot as Charlie Morton as he's 40 years old and still pitching fairly well. However, unlike Morton, Jesse announced he would probably retire from baseball at the end of 2024. It's been a long journey for Chavez as he's played with every team you could imagine.
There's just something about Atlanta for Jesse. Whenever he puts that Braves uniform on, he turns into one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball. It's going to be hard not seeing him wear that uniform next season.
Adam Duvall
It hasn't always been fun watching Duvall play with the Braves as he's struggled during his stints with Atlanta. However, he's a good dude and has provided plenty of exciting moments for fans to remember. 2024 isn't one of those moments fans will remember as it's been rough for Duvall with his .182 batting average.
He would be a good option for Atlanta to consider platooning with Jarred Kelenic again next season. The only issue is there is another option available that may work more in the Braves' favor. But it's easy to say that Atlanta could consider bringing Adam back at any point if they need to.
Ramón Laureano
Atlanta has been lucky to receive incredible production from Ramón Laureano this season. He started the year with the Guardians but was designated for assignment on May 20 after a poor start. The Braves signed him to a minor league deal after losing Ronald Acuña Jr. to his season-ending knee injury. He played extremely well for the Gwinnett Stripers, batting .362 over 14 games. He had 21 hits including three homers and 12 RBI.
Ramón Laureano takes a solo flight in Miami ✈️ pic.twitter.com/BITipWRpA3
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 21, 2024
This impressed Atlanta enough to call him up on June 15 and he performed pretty well with a .257 average through his first 11 games. However, he landed on the 10-day IL due to an oblique injury after his 11th game. He returned on July 21 and has been one of Atlanta's best offensive producers. Since his return from the IL, Laureano has batted .311 with eight doubles, eight homers, and 23 RBI. There is plenty of incentive to bring him back next season to man the outfield.
Technically Laureano should be a free agent next season but there is conflicting information online. Spotrac states he is a free agent next season but Baseball Reference states he is arbitration-eligible and a free agent in 2026. Either way, the Braves are going to want to bring him back.
Whit Merrifield
Similar to Laureano, Whit Merrifield was a mid-season addition by the Braves due to injury. Once Ozzie Albies went down with his wrist injury, Atlanta had to figure things out, and eventually, Merrifield was the answer. He has played great defense for the team and decent offensive output.
Once he was brought over after being let go by the Phillies, he improved his offense with the Braves. Merrifield has a .248 average over 41 games with 34 hits including five doubles, one homer, and four RBI. His on-base percentage has been great at .348 including 20 walks. Whit won't have a place in the starting lineup barring injury next season but he could be a valuable bench piece for the Braves.
Defensive clinic ft. Whit Merrifield💯 pic.twitter.com/PIR3FlWDsl
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 19, 2024
Gio Urshela
Urshela being on this list is bizarre as fans could never have expected Austin Riley to miss significant time in 2024. However, he did and Gio being let go with the Tigers couldn't have happened at a better time. He provided the Braves with an incredible defensive third baseman who has struggled offensively over the last couple of seasons.
However, he came to Atlanta and figured some things out. The good thing about Urshela is he puts the ball in play. He doesn't strike out a lot and puts the ball in play but his OBP isn't great so that is one downfall. Since joining the Braves, he has a .270 average with 31 hits, nine doubles, three home runs, and 13 RBI. I don't see him returning to Atlanta as he won't have a place to play with Riley returning.
John Brebbia
John Brebbia joined the Braves after a rough season with the White Sox. He earned a 6.29 ERA over 54 games with Chicago before they released him at the end of August. Atlanta added him to the roster and he's only appeared in five games with a 2.70 ERA (two walks and nine strikeouts).
Brebbia's metrics aren't anything special but he does have a good chase and strikeout percentage. That's the one positive to having him on the team but his remaining metrics are average. It doesn't feel like the Braves would bring him back next season.
That's all of the free agents after this season that the Braves will need to consider. Alex Anthopoulos and the Atlanta front office always do a good job of addressing needs during the offseason. However, this will be one of the most challenging ones they've experienced.
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