Braves catcher A.J. Pierzysnki and relievers Peter Moylan, Ross Detwiler and Edwin Jackson all became free agents Monday, the first day after the conclusion of the World Series.
The Braves hope to re-sign veteran Pierzynski, but it remains to be seen if his price rises above where they’re willing to go for the catcher, who’ll be 39 on Dec. 30. After batting .300 with 24 doubles, nine homers and 49 RBIs in 113 games, Pierzynski might be attractive for an American League team that offer a multi-year deal with the designated-hitter role a possibility down the line.
Moylan signed a two-year minor league deal with the Braves in March that was intended to give him time to recover at a cautious pace from his second Tommy John surgery and serve as a player/coach for rookie-league Danville in late summer. But he progressed ahead of scheduled and was called up by the major league team in August, at which point the minor-league contract was voided.
The Braves might have interest in re-signing Moylan or Jackson, who was released by the Cubs last summer with 1 1/2 seasons left on a huge contract.
Re-signing Pierzynski has been previously characterized as a priority by the Braves, if the price is within reason. He rebounded from a career-worst season in 2014 and surpassed expectations as a hitter in his first year in Atlanta, while providing the leadership the Braves hoped he would for their young pitching staff.
Pierzynski had been brought in to serve as a mentor to rooke Christian Bethancourt, but when Bethancourt struggled early while Pierzynski excelled, the majority of playing time shifted to Pierzysnki and Bethancourt was eventually demoted to Triple-A for much of the summer.
An informal survey of Atlanta media members indicated that Pierzynski was a frontrunner for the team’s Most Valuable Player award in an upcoming vote. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said late in the season that he thought Pierzynski was the team MVP.
