Braves: Non-tender Deadline Could Add Some Options
With the non-tender deadline approaching, the Atlanta Braves could several interesting candidates added to the free-agent pool.
It’s been a very slow start to the offseason for many teams other than the Atlanta Braves, but Wednesday’s non-tender deadline should help pick up the pace a bit.
This deadline will give us a better indication of which teams are willing to spend money this offseason and which teams are looking to shed payroll.
And with that, we could see some good players added to the free agent market.
We already talked about who the Braves might non-tender today (Dec. 2) ahead of the 8 p.m. ET deadline.
For what it’s worth, I think Luke Jackson is the only one who gets let go at this point.
But there are a lot of really good players who could be non-tendered that the Braves might be interested in.
In fact, there was news on Tuesday that the Minnesota Twins are likely to non-tender Eddie Rosario — who is expected to make close to $10 million through arbitration this year.
The lefty has a ton of power and could be a great platoon partner in left field with Adam Duvall.
MLB.com gave one non-tender candidate from each team and that list has several relievers that could be fits for the Braves — and would already add to a very deep list of free agent relievers.
And then MLB Trade Rumors also gave a list of possible non-tendered players, and it includes the biggest name of all in Kris Bryant.
Whether he’s non-tendered or not, I think he’s someone you’ll hear rumored for the Braves a lot this offseason. He’ll essentially be on a one-year deal, which the Braves love, looking to re-establish his market value before becoming a free agent — which has worked for Donaldson and Ozuna the past two years.
I’m not saying I love the fit with Bryant, but I certainly think it’s a possability. However, I don’t think it’s a possibility that the Cubs non-tendered. They’d be stupid to do that and not get anything for him.
There are also several back-up catchers who are likely to get non-tendered on Wedensday who could make sense for the Braves.
Curt Casali, Austin hedges, and Tony Wolters are possibilities there. Gary Sanchez could also possibly get non-tendered by the Yankees, but I’m not sure I love that fit in Atlanta.
Whether or not any of these players fit the Braves, it should at least heat up the hot stove and get this offseason going.