Two Braves that will soon be non-tendered

MLB’s non-tender deadline for arbitration eligible players is November 22nd, and the Braves have decisions to make on five players, some more difficult than others. Per MLB Trade Rumors, here are those five players along with their arbitration estimates. 

Braves Arbitration Candidates

• Ramon Laureano (5.159): $6.1MM
• Huascar Ynoa (3.117): $825K
• Jarred Kelenic (2.169): $2.3MM
• Dylan Lee (2.150): $1.2MM
• Eli White (2.140): $800K

As far as the players who will be tendered a contract, Jarred Kelenic and Dylan Lee are the obvious candidates. Lee has quietly been one of the better relievers in all of baseball over the last several years. With so many questions surrounding the Braves bullpen following the news that Joe Jimenez will miss most of next season, at the very least, there’s almost no scenario in which Atlanta does not tender Dylan Lee a contract. Kelenic is in a similar boat due to the fact that the Braves invested fairly heavily in him last offseason when they acquired him in a trade with the Mariners. Unless there is something significant going on behind the scenes with him, he’ll be back next year.

Huascar Ynoa is also likely to return, although is injury history makes him a little bit less of a sure thing, but the other two are undoubtedly non-tender candidates.

Because Eli White is so cheap and the Braves have questions in their outfield, there’s a world where the club keeps him around for depth purposes. But it’s more likely that they move on and potentially re-visit a reunion later in the offseason.

Ramon Laureano is the big name to watch over the next couple of days. Of all these five players, one could argue that he had the most positive impact on the Braves last season after being designated for assignment by the Guardians. In 67 games, Laureano hit .296 with 10 homers and an .832 OPS. He’s also no slouch defensively in the outfield.

For that kind of production, $6.1 million is a bargain. However, the Braves will have to determine if that is sustainable. In 43 games with the Guardians before being released, he recorded a 43 OPS+ (57% below league average).

It’s not a cut and dry decision like some of these, but what feels most likely is the Braves deciding to non-tender him, leaving the door open to potentially bring him back later in the offseason at a smaller figure. If they weren’t willing to pay Travis d’Arnaud $8 million, it’s hard to see them allocating $6.1 million for Ramon Laureano.