Braves president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos began the MLB offseason by trading Jorge Soler to the Angels on Thursday. Usually, a team’s first offseason move is not this notable.
And then Friday, the Braves claimed right-hander Royber Salinas off waivers from Oakland. Salinas was a former Braves farmhand who went to the Athletics in the trade that netted Sean Murphy two years ago. This was a smaller move, but it nonetheless represented activity.
And then Saturday, the Braves announced they signed Aaron Bummer to a new deal and re-worked Reynaldo López’s contract.
The good news for Braves fans who are waiting for more to occur: You will not need to wait long.
By the end of business Monday, the Braves must decide on contract options and qualifying offers.
Here’s a quick look at what must be done by Monday.
Contract options
The Braves must decide on Marcell Ozuna, Travis d’Arnaud and Luke Jackson. All have team options, which means the Braves choose whether to exercise their option.
On an end-of-season Zoom call, Anthopoulos said Ozuna ($16 million), d’Arnaud ($8 million) and Bummer ($7.25 million) put themselves in a good position to have their options exercised – though Anthopoulos didn’t guarantee that. The Braves almost certainly will decline Jackson’s $7 million option.
On Saturday, the Braves announced they signed Bummer to a two-year, $13 million deal. So his situation is clear. The Braves are bringing him back for two seasons, which wipes out the two option years for 2025 and 2026.
Ozuna was the Braves’ best hitter this season. He always seemed like a lock to return, but any doubt was erased when the Braves traded Soler. Primarily a designated hitter now, Soler didn’t have a clear role with the Braves because Ozuna is expected to be their full-time designated hitter.
With Sean Murphy and d’Arnaud, the Braves would have one of the better catching tandems in baseball.
Qualifying offer
The qualifying offer is a one-year contract worth $21.05 million for 2025.
The Braves almost certainly will extend the qualifying offer to starting pitcher Max Fried, who is a free agent. If he were to accept it, he would make $21.05 million in 2025.
But Fried will not accept it, as he can make more money on the open market – whether with the Braves or someone else.
If Fried doesn’t accept the qualifying offer and signs elsewhere, the Braves receive a compensatory draft pick for the 2025 MLB draft.
Relief pitcher A.J. Minter, another free agent, isn’t a true candidate for a qualifying offer because the salary would be far above what he’ll make next season.
The deadline for the Braves to extend the qualifying offer to Fried is 5 p.m. Monday.
Anthopoulos and other top decision-makers will be in San Antonio from Monday to Thursday for the annual general managers meetings.
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