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Grading the 2023 Atlanta Braves Free Agency Decisions

The Atlanta Braves let several players walk this offseason and it looks like many of those decisions were the right call

The Atlanta Braves have a very deep Major League roster, full of long-term control of their best performers in both the lineup and pitching staff. 

But there was a lot of turnover among the bottom of the roster, with Atlanta either letting a lot of players walk in free agency or shipping them out in trades. 

Let's look at the departed players from last season's roster and see which ones have new homes and which ones are still looking to latch on with another MLB team. 

Eddie Rosario - Washington Nationals

Aug 19, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario (8) acknowledges the fans after his two run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at Truist Park.

Rosario, 32, signed a split contract with the Washington Nationals less than a week ago that could be worth up to $4M if he makes the major league roster. 

Atlanta could have brought him back for 2024 on a $9M club option, but decided to pivot, executing a dizzying series of trades to ultimately end up with outfielder Jarred Kelenic of the Seattle Mariners at a total cost of $15M, but having five years of control over the former top prospect. 

Win or Lose?

Since the Braves would have paid $5M more than the Nationals will pay for Rosario's services, not picking up the club option was a WIN for Atlanta. 

Kevin Pillar - Chicago White Sox

Aug 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Kevin Pillar (17) hits an RBI single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. Atlanta won 8-6.

Pillar, a fan favorite who signed a minor league deal with Atlanta last offseason and ended up earning 81 games of playtime, signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox in early February.  

He's set to earn $3M if he makes the major league roster, the exact same salary he would have made with Atlanta.

Win or Lose?

A grade's hard for this one. Atlanta seems set with three everyday outfielders, Forrest Wall as the likely backup, and three young veterans playing every day in AAA should Atlanta need another option - J.P. Martínez, Jordan Luplow, and Eli White. 

Too close to call, for now. I think it'll be fine, but we just don't know. 

Jesse Chavez - Chicago White Sox

May 20, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jesse Chavez (60) throws against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Chavez is giving it one more go, attempting to be the only 40-year-old relief pitcher in MLB before hanging it up and getting into coaching. He signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox. 

He made $1.2M with Atlanta last season, a pay reduction from the $1.25M he was making in 2022 on a deal signed with the Chicago Cubs. His salary for 2024 if he makes the major league roster is unknown.  

He's survived several cuts so far in White Sox camp, meaning he very well could still make the major league roster for Opening Day. 

Win or Lose? 

From a purely baseball standpoint, Atlanta has multiple relievers that project to be better than Chavez in 2024, so this is technically a WIN...but the vibes aren't as good without Chavez and so it's a LOSS in our hearts. 

Also, it's going to be very hilarious when Atlanta trades for Jesse Chavez (and maybe Michael Soroka) at this year's trade deadline. 

Kirby Yates - Texas Rangers

Aug 20, 2023; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Kirby Yates (22) pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Truist Park.

Yates, 36, is one of the few Braves free agents from last season to not need to take a minor league deal, getting a guaranteed $4.5M contract from the world-champion Texas Rangers. 

Filling the role of "veteran former closer" for Atlanta last season, the Braves paid $6M in 2023 to 61 appearances, with Yates going 7-2 and picking up five saves. He pitched to a 3.28 ERA in his 60.1 innings, striking out 80 and walking 37. 

But looking to add velocity to the bullpen, Atlanta paid the $1.25M buyout instead of picking up Yates' 2024 club option at a cost of $5.75M.  

Win or Lose?

Atlanta would have had to pay $1.25M more than what Yates is set to make in 2024, making the decision to decline the club option a WIN, even with his buyout on the books. 

Michael Tonkin - New York Mets

Jun 15, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Michael Tonkin (51) throws against the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning at Truist Park.

"The Honky Tonk Man" was a fan-favorite among the staff of Braves Today, but he's now dead to us since joining the divisional-rival New York Mets on a one-year deal that'll pay an estimated $1M this season. 

The 34 year-old pitched in 45 games for Atlanta, taking 80 innings, and put up a 4.28 ERA with 75 strikeouts to 23 walks. 

Win or Lose?

The Braves, again, found some more velocity and have multiple longman options out of the 2024 pen, so it's hard to call this anything but a WIN from where we sit today.  

Yonny Chirinos - Miami Marlins

Jul 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos (56) throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Truist Park.

The 30-year-old Chirinos was selected off waivers by Atlanta in midseason, where he got into five games for Atlanta before a right elbow injury ended his season. 

There weren't particularly impressive performances, either, with Chirinos finishing with a 9.27 ERA in his 22.1 innings for the Braves last season.  

He's currently on a minor league deal within the division, in camp with the Miami Marlins. No financial terms are disclosed, but Chirinos needs to perform, as there are non-monetary concerns with his spot on the roster. As a major league veteran with five years of service, he can decline being sent down to the minors and instead elect free agency, so there's not a lot of roster flexibility with Chirinos this season. 

Win or Lose?

With the depth Atlanta has amongst their rotation options, we're going to grade not re-signing Chirinos as a WIN owing to the lack of roster flexibility the team would have if they'd retained him. 

Kolby Allard - Philadelphia Phillies

Jul 4, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (16) and starting pitcher Kolby Allard (49) celebrate in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.

Allard's second stint with the Braves didn't go according to plan, as the 26-year-old started the year on the injured list with an oblique strain and ultimately got a grand total of 12.1 innings before shoulder inflammation shut him down for the year. 

After making $750k with Atlanta for his 2023 season, Allard's one-year deal with the Phillies is a split deal that'll pay him $1M in the majors and $375k in the minors. He's still in big league camp as of today, but isn't expected to break camp with the team barring some injury concerns in the pitching staff. 

Win or Lose?

The Braves, again, have a ton of rotation options in the minors, with several of them having higher ceilings than Allard does at the moment. We'll call the decision to let Allard walk a WIN at this point in time. 

Brad Hand - free agent

Aug 11, 2023; New York City, New York, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Brad Hand (45) pitches in the seventh inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

Hand, 33, was acquired by the Braves at the trade deadline from the Colorado Rockies to provide another lefty veteran option in the bullpen. But he stumbled down the stretch, putting up a 7.50 ERA in his 20 appearances for Atlanta, and the team paid $500,000 to buy out their side his 2024 mutual option, priced at $7M. 

Hand is considered one of the top unsigned lefty relievers still on the market, but is not currently connected to any MLB team. 

Win or Lose?

Seven million dollars was obviously way too much to pay for Hand, who is facing the prospect of a minor-league deal and reporting to AAA before getting another big-league chance. It's clearly a WIN here.  

But hey, if this is it for Hand's career, he DID get to pitch for all five teams in the NL East. He'll be a cheat code in Immaculate Grid, similar to Jesse Chavez. 

Collin McHugh - retired

Aug 27, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Collin McHugh (32) pitches the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Oracle Park.

McHugh, 36, recently called it a career after eleven seasons in the majors. He pitched exceptionally well in 2022, with an ERA under 2.75 while taking on a very nice workload - 69.1 innings across 58 appearances. 

But injuries and ineffectiveness in 2023 limited him to only 41 appearances and an uncharacteristic 4.30 ERA. Atlanta chose to decline their $6M club option, paying a $1M buyout. 

Win or Lose?

Considering the guy's content to hang them up, the instinct will be to call this a win, but let's just remember the career that he had and the good things McHugh did for the Atlanta Braves and their fans. 

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