The biggest offseason free agent signings by the Braves from each season since 2010
These moves were the biggest free agent signings by the Atlanta Braves in every offseason from 2010-24.
Across the last decade-plus, the Atlanta Braves have made some impactful free agent signings. Some of which went on to become some of the organization's top players for years to come. So, with that thought in mind, let's rewind back to the 2009-10 offseason, and list the biggest free agent signing by the Atlanta Braves each year from then to now.
The early 2010's
2009-10: LHP Billy Wagner
Beginning with the 2009-10 offseason, the Braves also added the likes of Troy Glaus and Eric Hinske that year via free agency, but arguably neither had a more significant impact than Wagner. A veteran reliever who had six All-Star appearances at the time, Wagner would spent his final MLB season with Atlanta in 2010 as the Braves closer, and posted a 7-2 record with a 1.43 ERA and 104:22 K:BB ratio across 69.1 IP, as well as 37 saves in his seventh-career All-Star season.
2010-11: OF Eric Hinske
In an offseason that was bit of a quieter one for Atlanta when it came to free agent signings, likely the biggest that year came from the Braves bringing back Hinske. After posting a .793 OPS with 11 HR and 51 RBI across 131 games in 2010, Hinske went on to post a solid 2011 campaign for the Braves, slashing .233/.311/.403 with 10 HR and 28 RBI across 117 games.
2011-12: RHP Peter Moylan
The 2011-12 offseason was one of the quietest on this list for free agent signings, as arguably the biggest from that year being Moylan having been brought back on a minor league deal. Moylan, who had spent the previous six seasons in the Braves bullpen, would make eight appearances for Atlanta that season posting a 1-0 record with a 1.80 ERA, a 2:2 K:BB ratio, and one save across five IP.
2012-13: OF B.J. Upton
Upton was easily the biggest signing from the 2012-13 offseason for the Braves, with the outfielder going on to spend two seasons with the club at the MLB level. Across the 2013 and 2014 seasons combined, Upton slashed .198/.279/.314 with 21 HR, 61 RBI, and 32 SB across 267 games with the Braves.
The rebuild
2013-14: RHP Aaron Harang
The Braves biggest free agent signing from the 2013-14 offseason is arguably a toss-up between Harang and Ervin Santana, but the selection here goes to the right-hander. In what was his lone season in Atlanta, Santana posted a 12-12 record with a 3.57 ERA and a 161:71 K:BB ratio across 204.1 IP, which was also 33 starts.
2014-15: OF Nick Markakis
The 2014-15 offseason was one of the most active for the Atlanta Braves from 2010-24, as the club also signed additional free agents such as Jason Grilli, Jim Johnson, A.J. Pierzynski, Kelly Johnson, and Jonny Gomes. However, the top signing of that group was Markakis, as the veteran outfielder went on to slash a combined .283/.357/.402 with 48 HR, 388 RBI, and five SB across 789 games.
2015-16: RHP Jim Johnson
Atlanta was also active in free agency during the 2015-16 offseason, with one of the biggest moves being bringing back Johnson over additional signings such as Tyler Flowers, Bud Norris, and Gordon Beckham. In 2016, Johnson would post a 2-6 record with a 3.06 ERA, a 68:20 K:BB ratio, and 20 saves across 64.2 IP.
2016-17: C Kurt Suzuki
In an offseason where the Braves signed a pair of veteran pitchers in R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon, the biggest free agent move ended up being signing Suzuki. Across 81 games in 2017, Suzuki would slash a combined .283/.351/.536 with a career-high 19 HR and 50 RBI.
Getting back to winning baseball
2017-18: RHP Anibal Sanchez
One of the most impactful free agent signings by Atlanta since 2010 was Sanchez, whom the Braves signed to a minor league deal prior to the 2018 season. In what was his lone season with the Braves, Sanchez posted a 7-6 record with a 2.83 ERA and 135:42 K:BB ratio across 136.2 IP.
2018-19: 3B Josh Donaldson
The 2018-19 offseason saw the Braves bring back former catcher Brian McCann, along with others moves that included re-signing Nick Markakis and signing pitcher Josh Tomlin. However, the biggest move was easily signing Donaldson, who slashed .259/.379/.521 with 37 HR, 94 RBI, and four SB in his lone season with Atlanta.
2019-20: OF Marcell Ozuna
One of the most impactful offseasons for the Atlanta Braves recently came in 2019-20, which saw the club sign Ozuna, along with others such as catcher Travis d'Arnaud and pitchers Will Smith, Chris Martin, and Darren O'Day. The biggest signing of that group was likely Ozuna, as he went on to be one of baseball's top hitters during the shortened 2020 campaign by slashing .338/.431/.636 across 60 games, as well as leading the NL with 18 HR and 56 RBI.
2020-21: RHP Charlie Morton
Atlanta's 2020-21 offseason included a few notable signings such as Marcell Ozuna, Drew Smyly, Josh Tomlin, and Ehire Adrianza, but easily the biggest was Morton, who became a key piece of the Braves 2021 World Series winning team. That season, Morton led the MLB with 33 starts made, and owned a 14-6 record with a 3.34 ERA and 216:58 K:BB ratio across 185.2 IP.
Remaining a World Series contender
2021-22: RHP Kenley Jansen
Coming off their World Series, the Braves also made other signings this offseason such as Collin McHugh and Jackson Stephens, but the biggest was likely Jansen. In what was his lone season in Atlanta, Jansen posted a 5-2 record with a 3.38 ERA and 85:22 K:BB ratio across 64 IP, while also leading the NL with 41 saves.
2022-23: RHP Jesse Chavez
Last offseason, the Braves also signed the likes of Nick Anderson and Kevin Pillar, with arguably the biggest signing being Chavez. Across 34.2 IP, Chavez went 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA and 39:12 K:BB ratio out of the Braves bullpen.
2023-24: RHP Reynaldo Lopez
The Braves biggest free agent signing of this offseason was likely Lopez. Lopez is coming off a 2023 season in which he held a combined 3-7 record with a 3.27 ERA and 83:34 K:BB ratio across 66 IP, as well as amassing six saves.
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