With the number of extensions the Atlanta Braves have handed out to their younger players in recent years, arbitration does have the same level of importance it does for a lot of teams. While locking in so many guys creates a different set of a challenges including payroll flexibility, Atlanta is not in the position where their plans for 2025 are going to change dramatically depending on what happens in arbitration.
Another reason why the Braves aren’t going to end up being one of the top stories this arbitration season was because they cut loose a lot of arb players at the non-tender deadline which is the first step in the arbitration process each offseason. As to those who remain with Atlanta and are arbitration-eligible, a key arbitration deadline is coming up very soon.
Explaining the arbitration filing deadline and what it means for the Braves
Once any team, including the Braves, decides on the arbitration players they are going to tender contracts to for 2025, the next step begins the process of figuring out how much they are going to get paid. On Thursday, January 9th, teams are faced with the deadline to file arbitration figures.
Essentially, by that deadline, the Braves and their arb guys either have to agree to terms on a contract for next season or each side has to file the figures that they think a player should be paid. The Braves are typically a “file and trial” team so if Atlanta can’t come to terms with a player or players, a third party arbitrator will decide between the two sides’ filed salary figures after a hearing. Ideally, things won’t get to that point as there can be hurt feelings from hearings and mostly unnecessary drama.
Atlanta Braves projected arbitration salaries for 2025
The Braves did have a number of arbitration-eligible players at the end of the 2024 season, but things have changed quite a bit. Ramon Laureano, Cavan Biggio, and Huascar Ynoa did not survive the roster purge and the one arb guy the Braves acquired this offseason in the Jorge Soler trade, Griffin Canning, also got sent packing. That leaves the Braves with the following arbitration players including their projected salaries from MLB Trade Rumors.
- Jarred Kelenic – $2.3 million
- Dylan Lee – $1.2 million
- Eli White – $800,000
Kelenic could have made his arbitration case a bit more interesting for his first go at it if he had played better in 2024. Unfortunately, he underperformed what was hoped from him, so $2.3 million seems about right especially with rising player salaries overall. He is also a prime candidate to settle with the team before the filing deadline as he may be on the hot seat in 2025 and has little leverage at this point.
Jarred Kelenic has his first home run as a Brave! pic.twitter.com/hW3P3oXCbC
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2024
After that, we have Lee who is going to be relied upon as a lefty out of the Braves bullpen especially if Atlanta does not bring back AJ Minter. Lee has generally been solid out of the bullpen, but also dealt with shoulder issues in 2023. That said, his arbitration number shouldn’t move the needle much either way you look at him. The picture is similar with White as while he is an interesting player, he is a decent bench outfielder and shouldn’t cost much even if he somehow sees the inside of a hearing.
