Now that the non-tender deadline has come and gone, it's a good time to evaluate which players who weren't tendered a contract could be a fit for the Atlanta Braves. The final number of players non-tendered ended up being 66, but only a handful will be viewed as real options for a 26-man roster spot with Atlanta. Alex Anthopoulos kept a few bench pieces around, but clear holes on the roster still exist.
The bullpen in particular is an area that obviously needs reinforcements before the Braves get to spring training. Anthopoulos brought back Raisel Iglesias on Wednesday night, but work still needs to be done around Iggy. This is where a couple of non-tendered pitchers who just entered the free agent market could be the most intriguing names for the Braves.
Here are 2 recently non-tendered, high upside relievers that make sense for the Braves
The first name we will speak on here is former Brave, Evan Phillips. The former 17th round pick by the Braves back in 2015 finally reached the big league level with Atlanta in 2018 for a few uninspiring appearances. Phillips struggled to stick at the Major League level until he found a home with the Dodgers and broke out in 2022. From there Phillips rode his sweeper to a ton of success (2.21 ERA from 2022-2024) as a trusted late-inning option for Dave Roberts.
Unfortunately, Phillips battled injury in the 2024 postseason, and underwent Tommy John Surgery in May of 2025. Because of that, Phillips is expected to miss the beginning portion of the 2026 season, but it could suppress the market enough for Anthopoulos to swoop in. Phillips would be an upside play based on the value he could provide in the second half of the season, but if the medicals are good this feels right up Anthopoulos' alley.
Another RHP that hit the market on Friday was veteran Mark Leiter Jr. The former Yankee has never been a truly dominant reliever, but his profile does indicate some value can be found in a mid-inning relief role. Leiter Jr. sported a 4.84 ERA with the Yankees last season, but his underlying numbers were more encouraging.
Last season, Leiter Jr.'s xERA was 3.72 and he finished with a 3.55 FIP. The most exciting part of Leiter Jr.'s profile is his ability to limit hard contact. Last season, Leiter Jr. finished in the 94th percentile in hard-hit rate and 92nd percentile in average exit velocity. Additionally, Leiter Jr. still generates enough swing and miss (29.1% whiff rate) to have the upside of a late-inning relief option.
With the uncertainty around Joe Jimenez's knee and its health, adding upside pitchers like Phillips or Leiter Jr. feels like a good idea for Anthopoulos. After each players non-tender fate, the cost to bring them to Atlanta should be manageable. The Braves have more pressing needs to address first, but don't be surprised if Anthopoulos circles back to any of these non-tendered players later in the offseason.