The deadline to tender a contract to arbitration eligible candidates was yesterday, and the Braves really trimmed the fat, non-tendering a league leading seven players.
The #Braves today declined to tender contracts to LHP Kolby Allard, RHP Yonny Chirinos, RHP Penn Murfee, LHP Angel Perdomo, RHP Michael Tonkin, C Chadwick Tromp and INF Lucas Williams for the 2024 season. Atlanta now has 30 players on the 40-man roster.
The real surprises came in the form of trades ahead of the non-tender deadline. The Braves sent Michael Soroka to the White Sox, along with Jared Shuster
The Atlanta #Braves tonight acquired LHP Aaron Bummer from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP Michael Soroka, LHP Jared Shuster, INF Nicky Lopez, INF Braden Shewmake and minor-league RHP Riley Gowens: pic.twitter.com/VHlIEpk56I
, Nicky Lopez, Braden Shewmake and Riley Gowens
I thought the Braves might have kept Nicky Lopez around. He’s a high-quality utility man, but they obviously wanted to save the $4 million they were going to have to pay him through arbitration. Like most of Braves Country, I hoped the Braves would see things through with Soroka after everything he’s overcome to get back to the major-league level. However, the timelines didn’t really add up, and he was out of options. By trading him, the Braves will save around $3 million.
This one doesn’t make much sense. Sure, Kyle Wright is going to miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, but he was only expected to earn just over $1 million in arbitration and is under contract through the 2026 season. For a pitcher that went 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 2022, you would think the Braves would have held onto him in hopes he could work his way back into the rotation in 2025.
Perhaps the shoulder issues are much more problematic than originally anticipated, or maybe the Braves see something in Jackson Kowar. But until we see what happens next, I don’t have an answer.
With all the moves yesterday, the Braves now only have 30 players on the 40-man roster. This is setting up to be a very busy offseason for Alex Anthopoulos.
