Atlanta Braves relief pitcher, Jason Motte elected free agency

Braves Motte will join the free agency world

Atlanta Braves added two names to the 149 players that became free agents already this offseason.  Pitchers R.A. Dickey and Jason Motte were granted free agency.

Dickey is still contemplating retirement as the Braves declined their $8 million option on 42-year-old knuckleballer on October 23rd.  The Braves, who made this announcement last Monday, will pay Dickey $500,000 for his buyout since he had a team option on his contract.  Dickey said he will decide by November 14th if he’ll retire or not.

Motte will turn 36-years-old in 2018 and will be entering his 10th season as a professional pitcher.  He holds a career 3.30 ERA in 444 games pitched.

In 2017, Motte appeared in 46 games for the Braves and had a 3.54 ERA.  He pitched well for the Braves and was one of their most consistent relief pitchers.  The righty didn’t allow a run in his 13 appearances in May and gave up only five runs following the All-Star break.  Though he did deal with a back strain and a right oblique strain towards the end of 2017.

Motte signed a deal with the Braves on April 11th and was sent to the Gwinnett Braves.  He made five scoreless appearances at Triple-A before the Braves called him up to Atlanta.  Motte was released by the Colorado Rockies at the end of Spring Training.

When Motte joined the Atlanta Braves, he looked quite different.  He was missing his trademark long beard.  The Braves don’t allow their minor league players to have any facial hair so he had to shave when he was signed.

This winter is going to be fun.  Lots of big names in the free agent wire and a lot of them are going to be getting paid big bucks.  It’s going to be interesting to see what the Braves do…in the pen, third base, trading, signing, hiring (front office), etc.

Here’s the list of players that became free agents already.

One of the biggest needs for the Braves this offseason has to be bullpen help.  Finding veteran arms to be mixed in with our young arms is a must this winter.  A few names the Braves have been linked to are Addison Reed, Brandon Morrow, Anthony Swarzak and Tommy Hunter.

Following Dickey and Motte being removed from the Braves 40-man roster, the Braves made  a few more moves.  They activated LHP Jacob Lindgren and Danny Santana from the 60-day DL.  The Braves 40-man roster currently has 36 players.

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