After missing out on Tanner Scott, the top reliever from this offseason's free agent class, the Atlanta Braves are in a tough spot. With less than a month before Spring Training starts, the club hasn't made a single notable move and have whiffed on multiple relievers this offseason.
Options are dwindling, but Kirby Yates, the former Braves reliever who had a resurgent season with the Rangers last season, could be the club's last chance to make a big slash before Spring Training begins.
Kirby Yates, K'ing the Side in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/zGYjfjm1eT
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 6, 2024
Braves can't afford to miss out on Kirby Yates
Kirby Yates two seasons with the Braves were underwhelming, to say the least. When the Braves signed the righty, he was still recovering from Tommy John surgery. The club hoped he could return to the elite form he showed as the Padres closer in 2018 and 2019.
It took nearly the entire 2022 season to come back from Tommy John, but he was able to make nine appearances that season. He was a much more prominant member of the Braves in 2023. During his lone full season with the Braves, the then-36-year-old threw 60.1 innings and had a 3.28 ERA. However his 4.63 FIP likely indicated that he was more lucky than good.
The Braves declined the $5.75 million option they had on him at the end of the 2023 season, and Yates caught on with the Texas Rangers on a one-year, $4.5 million deal.
Yates seemingly turned back the clock in Texas, as he had his best season by ERA in his career with a 1.17 mark. Unlike his 2023 with the Braves as well, his 2.50 FIP was also elite (albeit over a run higher than his ERA).
Baseball Savant stats also backed Yates's dominance on the mound, as nearly every metric aside from his walk rate, fastball velocity, and pitch extension were elite.
Coming into this offseason, MLB Trade Rumors predicted the soon-to-be 38-year-old would get a one-year, $14 million deal. However, almost every single free agent from this year's pool have received deals exceeded projections.
While the Braves bullpen was elite last year, it's clear that Joe Jimenez's injury has put a quality reliever at the top of their wish list. As reliever after reliever has come off the board, it's clear that if the Braves want to land a free agent from this year's class, they'll need to make a big offer.
Kirby Yates could fulfill the need of a late inning reliever at a lower overall cost thanks to the righty's age. If the Braves is willing to take a risk in offering a multi-year deal to Yates, the club could the overall yearly dollar amount. Instead of Yates receiving a one year deal around $15 million, he could secure an extra $10-15 million by signing for two or three years.
This would work well for both parties, but the Braves simply need to bite the bullet and make their first big deal of the offseason.