SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Unlike in the previous two offseasons, the Braves don’t have any big free agents this year. But the start of their offseason will be intriguing nonetheless because of the decisions they must make on contract options.
The first: The Braves declined their end of Brad Hand’s $7 million mutual option. The Braves will pay Hand his $500,000 buyout and he will be a free agent.
Monday at 5 p.m. is the deadline for the Braves to submit their decisions on contract options. They will soon finalize and announce news on Charlie Morton ($20 million club option), Eddie Rosario ($9 million club option), Kirby Yates ($5.75 million club option with a $1.25 million buyout) and Collin McHugh ($6 million club option with a $1 million buyout).
The decision on Hand isn’t surprising. For context, the Braves will pay Joe Jiménez $8 million in and Pierce Johnson $7 million in 2024. Though Hand is a veteran lefty worth a bullpen spot on some clubs, the $7 million is a hefty price for someone who wasn’t one of Atlanta’s top relievers.
In 2023, Hand posted a 5.53 ERA over 53-2/3 innings. He began the season with Colorado before the Braves acquired him hours before the trade deadline. Over 18 frames with the Braves, Hand surrendered 15 earned runs.
In the spring, Hand signed a one-year deal with the Rockies that included a $7 million club option, with a $500,000 buyout. But his contract said that if he were traded during the year, that team option would become a mutual option.
The Braves already signed Johnson and Jiménez to multi-year deals. Raisel Iglesias will return as closer, and A.J. Minter is under team control through next season. The Braves expect Tyler Matzek (Tommy John surgery rehab) and Dylan Lee (left shoulder cleanup procedure) to be ready for spring training. The bullpen should be good again.
If the Braves had exercised Hand’s option, he might’ve been the fourth lefty in their bullpen behind Minter, Matzek and Lee.
If not counting Yates and McHugh, whose option decisions haven’t been announced, the first six in the Braves’ 2024 bullpen could look something like this:
Iglesias
Minter
Johnson
Jiménez
Matzek
Lee
Nick Anderson, who will be healthy, could be part of the group. Daysbel Hernandez, who made the Braves’ roster for the National League Division Series, could compete for a bullpen spot in spring training.
The point here: The Braves probably couldn’t justify giving Hand $7 million when they don’t desperately need him. He should garner interest from teams this offseason, though. Even if he isn’t what he used to be, he can still help a club.
Now, we await their other decisions on contract options.
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