The Braves announced just after the 8:00 ET deadline tonight that they have none-tendered three players. It was reported earlier today that Charlie Culberson was going to be non-tendered. The beloved utility man was the only surprise of the group, but it shows the Braves plan on making an effort to improve their bench.
The other two players were John Ryan Murphy and Rafael Ortega. Murphy was acquired at the trade deadline last season as depth at the catcher’s position. Depth that turned out to be useful thanks to a slew of injuries that hit the Braves late in 2019. However, with the acquisition of Travis d’Arnaud, his services were no longer necessary. Ortega provided a boost out of nowhere after being called up late last year, and he even made the playoff roster, which shows just how much injuries took a toll on the Braves.
It’s not out of the question that any of these guys are brought back at a lesser figure. Although I don’t see Charlie Culberson having much trouble finding a team that will pay him at least the $1.8 million he was scheduled to make in arbitration. His presence in the clubhouse is worth that number alone, which is why it was a bit shocking the Braves moved on from him. But perhaps this is a sign that even more additions are coming.
Following today’s decisions, the Braves have seven arbitration-eligible players. Here’s the list:
- Mike Foltynewicz
- Dansby Swanson
- Johan Camargo
- Luke Jackson
- Shane Greene
- Adam Duvall
- Grant Dayton
All of these guys were expected to be back. There were questions regarding the possibility of Shane Greene being non-tendered after the signings of Darren O’Day, Chris Martin, and Will Smith, but Alex Anthopoulos squashed that bug a while ago when he said the Braves were trying to add to their bullpen, not subtract. With him and Luke Jackson back in the fold, Atlanta is set up to have perhaps the best bullpen in baseball next season.