The Braves have non-tendered outfielder Adam Duvall, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports. Duvall was in line to make at least $4MM in arbitration, but he’ll instead head to the free-agent market.
Duvall just wrapped up a two-plus-season stint with the Braves, who acquired him from the Reds before the 2018 trade deadline. Duvall was a two-time 30-home run hitter at that point, but he struggled enough during his final Reds season for the team to cut the cord on him. To Duvall’s credit, he rebounded from 2019-20 as a member of the Braves, hitting .248/.307/.545 (118 wRC+) with 26 home runs in 339 plate appearances. The 32-year-old was among the NL’s HR leaders with 16 in 2020, but that wasn’t enough to convince the Braves to tender him a contract.
While Duvall is no longer a Brave, it doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t bring him back for a cheaper salary, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic tweets that they’ll consider re-signing him. For now, though, a team that has already seen Marcell Ozuna and Nick Markakis hit free agency is down another outfielder.
Wow.
This shocks me. Terrible Luke Jackson gets the full $1.9 million he could have made in arbitration but Duvall is let go to save $4 million? Duvall hit 16 home runs last season. In a span of less than a week Duvall had multiple 3 homer games. You know how rare that is? It’s so rare that no player in Major League history has ever done it other than Duvall. Great clubhouse presence. Great LF defense. Incredible light tower power. That easily seems like it is worth well more than twice as much as a terrible right handed relief pitcher (Luke Jackson) who has been given opportunity after opportunity but still pitches to the tune of an ERA around 6.50. He always fails. If you can turn the absolute worst relief pitcher on your team into a starting good defensive serious light tower power hitter at a position you have a need for at a cost of $2.1 million… Why not do it?
I feel like this means the Braves are either going to sign Duvall to a lower AAV deal or they are confident in their ability to sign both a solid LF and DH on the free agent market. At this point if Duvall doesn’t come back it seems like an acquisition of hitter like Joc Pederson, Michael Brantley, Nelson Cruz, Marcell Ozuna, or George Springer will do. I hope they are focusing on getting at least 2 of those…. unless they just did this to bring Duvall back at a lower price. This offense can’t take a straight up loss of both Duvall and Ozuna. Those were are 2 best home run hitters.
I’d like us to try and trade for Joey Gallo
We don’t know all the specifics. Just because MLBTR estimates his contract to be at 4M doesn’t mean that’s what he was going to get. For instance, if Duval and his agent asked for 6M and the Braves countered with 3.5M, in arbitration he could have gotten it because the numbers from last season are inflated. He got almost as many HR as Ozuna, with less ABs. Making an argument against him would be hard.
I think the best the Braves can hope is that we can sign him on a multi year contract. Maybe 2/10 or 3/15. But I’m not sure if Duval takes it.
WHAT!!! You have got to be joking me. They absolutely need his bat! This is disappointing…. Give Luke Jackson 1.9 mill, Give Camargo 1.3 mill, cut O Day…. This is sad. I would go as far as saying this team won’t even make the playoffs at this point. Probably Freedies last year as a Brave too.SMH
That’s my first reaction as well. But I have two thoughts.
1) To keep him at $4,000,000, he’s likely going to have to be a starter and that might not happen with Pache, etc.
2) If he is to be the DH, then finding a RH, power hitting guy who can’t field well in free agency isn’t that hard. It’s the most available skill set in the league.
Noooo! I loved Duvall. I’m kinda surprised by this move
He’s horrible
You clearly didn’t watch the Braves last year
There was only 6 players in Baseball that hit more home runs in 2020 than ADAM DUVALL
Weirdly, all the HRs might be part of the reason he was non-tendered. The Braves don’t really know how the short season 2020 numbers would impact his salary if it went to arbitration.
Christian, it’s not that keysox didn’t watch the Braves last year, it’s that he hasn’t watched BASEBALL for the last half dozen years.
Really thought they would run a Duvy/Joc platoon
Yes!!!!. I was hoping for the same thing. Joc and Duvall would be the best LF power platoon in MLB. you add guys like Acuna, Freeman, Albies, Swanson and d’Arnaud for those 2 guys to drive in… that would be insane. Joc and Duvall could easily combine for 50 home runs out of our left field spot in the line up at a total cost of around $12 million. Who DOESN’T pay $12 million for 40-50 home runs out of one position but WILL pay $12.9 million for Luke Jackson + Drew Smyly?
Hmmm. Really? Wouldn’t he have cost what Jackson & Camargo are going to make? Ok, I’m confused.
Wait, are they paying Jackson? Nvm I just checked. Giving him close to 2 million but won’t give oday 3
I guess we’ll see if they work something out in the next hour!
Why are Braves fans so in love with O’Day?
because we waited 2 d*** seasons to see him pitch….when we finally did he was pretty good… plus it lead to seeing much less of Luke Jackson ;-)…thats why lol
He wasn’t that good. Luke Jackson really wasn’t all that bad when he was not in save situations. He should have never been out there for those. But even still, he was doing a pretty good job for awhile. I’d rather see Jackson than O’Day.
@vtnsc
Darren oDay 2020 : 1,10 ERA 2.76 FIP and 12.1 K/9
He also has a career ERA of 2.51. In what world is that not a good pitcher? It’s crazy to me that you would prefer Luke Jackson of Darren O`day.
That’s insane. Luke Jackson was terrible last season and I don’t think he was ever in a save situation. He was terrible overall in 2019 as well. I know he supossedly has “stuff” but have you ever heard him speak in interviews? He just seems way to unintelligent to be able to outsmart hitters.
Defending Luke Jackson after the 2019 season is ok. Defending after any other season, much less 2020, is a federal crime and likely a sin
Luke Jackson is terrible. The end.
That’s basically how the story should read. The fact that they’re paying him but non-tendered Duvall is baffling. One helps you win games, the other costs you games.
Sometimes AA makes shrewd moves and others I wonder if he’s been drinking.
I cant understand why they signed Jackson he’s not even good enough for the minors, Whenever he goes to the mound everybody on base scores
Luke Jackson is a nightmare. He’s allergic to stranding runners. Funny to see so many other Braves fans losing their minds over cutting Duval and keeping him, haha. For Jackson, I think it’s just about having the option while they try to assemble other bullpen pieces after losing O’day, Melancon, and Greene. I hope they cut Jackson before the season. Would love to see him land on the Nationals or Phillies so we could tee off on him to start rallies.
Luke Jackson is pretty decent, except when he inherits runners. When he starts an inning he’s good and can even give you 2 innings and close, if needed.
I don’t understand why Snit keep bringing him with runners on tho.
Because in all reality Snit is awful at managing the games. I mean don’t get me wrong, he’s an outstanding man and loved in the clubhouse and seemingly rightfully so. But being nice doesn’t win games. Making smart moves does and it’s pretty clear that Snit has no idea how to use a bullpen or pinch hit guys. Also his terrible matchups he’s always trying to force. Wish Wash was our manager and Snit was the third base coach…
Just because you have a bad contract doesn’t mean that’s the rate for a good contract.
Welcome back to SF?
Only if DH is standardized.
With Dickerson Yaz, Slater, and Dubon, the only spot where they could use some help is CF. Duvall turned into a better hitter than I thought he would, and could be serviceable in LF, but I don’t see him as a fit in SF.
I’ve been happy that Duvall has had a relatively good run after his SF days. Bummed he got non-tendered. However, the Giants have a packed outfield with streaky/inconsistent hitters. The outfield bat I’d like to see FZ bring in is a true impact batter who can play solid enough defense to manage our large outfield (that would exclude Ozuna).
he’s probably going to regress. very up and down.
Maybe but still a gold glove caliber LF with 30 homer potential.
He had negative defensive metrics in every season he played in Atlanta and has a career 293 OBP. He’s very easily replaceable.
Now batting 4th for your Atlanta Braves, #7, Ender Inciarte
Not number 7
I don’t want Dansby protecting Freddie either but ya….Ender is #11.
I like Duvall, but man, he’s too streaky a hitter.
totally agree…like him a lot plus he’s a good defender….he can literally carry the team for a month, but then disappear the next 6 weeks
This is exactly why the Braves are risking being able to sign him for cheaper. They have too many ‘streaky’ guys that mostly stunk come playoff time. That is why they struggled despite their pitching doing far better than expected in the playoffs.
I like Duvall, but how many 2 for 30 streaks can one take only to see him get hot for a week and then stink for two more. I wouldn’t mind seeing him back, but I think he will be overpaid by someone.
Curious how many of these non-tenders are taking place simply for the team to resign the players for less money.
I take your point, but Duvall has been a DFA candidate for several seasons, really. The Giants traded him away because he looked like a one-dimensional player. He pretty much has been.
What determines whether someone gets their own article about being non-tendered or just gets added to the blanket “National League Non-Tenders” article?
Well, Duvall was a former all star, and as the article mentioned, a leading HR hitter in ’20. That counts for more than your garden variety non-tender, even if it’s not a huge surprise that ATL made this decision.
players who hit 10 Home Runs in a 2 week span i guess lol
I think that injury in the post season is more serious than we know.
I guess the Braves would rather have William DuVall of Alice In Chains than Adam Duvall.
And Alice in Chains would rathe have Layne Stayley than William DuVall, but hey, what can you do? Ship sailed on that one.
Jerry Cantrell was clearly the best of that group. He actually had the most talent with an instrument and he wrote most of the songs. Not to mention he was one of the few members of the band who figured out how to keep himself alive.
Yeah, he also plays on Deftones “Phantom Bride” off their 2016 album ‘Gore’.
Yea but Robert Duvall is the best Duvall of them all
But Clint Eastwood would win
Popeye chooses Shelley Duvall
I like Lacey Duvalle better. She has an outrageous bum.
Washington could use an outfielder with power.
I think they already have one. But yeah, another one. Duvall may not be plan A but might be a good fit. I think he came up with SF as a corner infielder. Wonder if Washington could use him both at 1B and corner OF.
That’s not a bad idea.
Braves now don’t have Ozuna or Duvall but still have Ender and Luke Jackson
It’s crazy right?
Maybe Springer or Brantley are on the way to replace him? And DJ to play 3rd?
We can always dream!!
@james. Out of the three players you mentioned I’d only see them go after Brantley because the Braves are cheep cheep.
Would like to see my lowly Pirates pick him up for a shot. They badly lack power and he can play OF/DH and who knows maybe if he’s hot, they can trade him for a lottery ticket. Get Polanco out of here.
Whoever signs Joc should sign Duvall. Or SD to bench Hosmer against lefties, Myers to 1B and Duvall in the OF. I realize Hosmer makes a ton but his work against lefties isn’t strong enough. Duvall is still very useful.
I expect the Braves will re-sign him. They probably already had a deal worked out before they non-tendered him.
Your probably right, I hope
If they did have a deal lined up for Duvall (that he agreed to) he would have already signed it as a pre-tender. While Duvall may end up back in Atlanta, he’d be smart to at least test the market. A lot of teams could use his power as a platoon player, so he might still be able to get close to that $4M number from someone.
What a JOKE!!!
GIANTS NEED TO JUMP ON THIS IMMEDIATELY
Wow. This has to be target number one for the Cardinals. If they decide to spend anything that is.
I don’t like it. They got Camargo to take a pay cut. They probably offered him a pay cut and he turned it down.
Duvall doesn’t hit good pitching.
Majority of the league doesn’t. That’s why it’s “good pitching”
FIRE AA!!!!
You’re experiencing the weirdness that is AA. We saw it in Toronto.
Lord man… he continues to make dumb decision after dumb decision. He refuses to pull the trigger on bullpen in 2019 until the team was on the verge of bleeding out the season because of it, then in 2020 he refused to make a move on SP and that proved to be the difference of making the World Series and not making the the World Series. He keeps making these smaller moves that we continue to praise him on, which is deserves to some point (Acuna, Ozzie, upgrading the bullpen, striking gold with Ozuna and Donaldson) but it’s just not enough to overcome the lack of good decisions and the 1 year deals that have failed. He needs to go… I’m done with it.. he’s got to go. Duvall let go but we hold on to like Jackson and Camargo? You kidding? Those type of guys flood the market and a dirt cheap. For the record, most of the talent on the team is thanks to coppy forever anyone starts going nuts on how great AA is. He’s not good… stop it
Several here mention Duvall’s home runs in 2020. He had 16 but only totaled 45 hits HR’s included.. Just 33 RBI and batted a lowly .237. The HR’s may look good but the overall numbers aren’t solid.
To his credit he is an excellent left fielder.
That’d be a fair point if he was about to make 18 million dollars, but for what he’d cost those numbers aren’t bad for the weak side of a platoon. You don’t cut a 4th OF like that who can help you. It’s short-sighted.
Sounds like saving 4 million but still need outfield help. Unless Pache and Walters are going to play in 2021 in Atlanta. I doubt Ozuna will be a Brave personally but Brantley is possible.
I just think it has to be tough for NL teams to make decisions not knowing what the rules are in 2021. Honestly, if I’m a GM of an NL team, I want no DH for 2021 just because it is one less position to fill.
DuVall is a nice guy to have on a roster and would make a decent enough DH/4th outfielder for an NL team. I wouldn’t want him getting 600 ABs but he has good value..
Gentlemen, does this open the door for the Braves to sign Michael Brantley,Marcel Ozzuna Eddie Rosario, or George Springer? I cant imagine them bringing in Joc Pederson unless they are able to sign Adam Duvall cheaper?
They might also move Riley to the outfield and look at Franco, Semien, Didi or even Simmons for 3b.
Keeping duvall shouldn’t have prevented the Braves from going after these guys
Riley and Duvall seem to be redundant. Riley is younger, cheaper and plays a passable third so more versatile. With all the outfield options and 3b options out there it’s not a bad strategy .
Considering no one opens the links you post to find out more information you could have just said 4.4 to 7.1m.
Signing Luke Jackson for 1.9m Pisses me off just like any Braves fan tho. Too Many good RPs in a Low Market year to give 2m to Luke Jackson. There are Starters with ERA’s lower than his (Career & Season) that will take 2m or less. We get it, U thought he had Potential. If he had command, That SL would have been special. Well, somehow he got even worse. He is pushing 30 & still has No command. His SL lost both Spin & velocity. Last year Hitters were hitting more than a lost soul at Bonnaroo.
Giving him 2m just reminds me that we will probably never win a WS. We make too many dumb mistakes
I think we can expect to see Pache and Waters in the big leagues next year.
Okay, normally I am a big fan of AA and how he does his business but I am having a really hard time understanding how you sign Jackson (especially Jackson) and Camargo both but not Duvall. Unless this is just some back room pre-arranged deal to save some money, I think the Braves management really misjudged this call..
Some team will be very glad to have Duvall in 2021. Hopefully it will be Atlanta
I hope this doesn’t mean AA is targeting Springer. I really don’t want him on the Braves. I’d rather they re-sign Ozuna and play him full-time in LF.