October 2nd: Kelenic, Díaz, Dunning and Williams have officially elected free agency, according to David O’Brien of The Athletic.
October 1st: The Braves have begun offseason roster housekeeping. Atlanta announced they’ve outrighted five players — outfielder Jarred Kelenic, right-handers Alexis Díaz and Dane Dunning, catcher Sandy León, and utility player Luke Williams — off the 40-man roster. They’ll all be minor league free agents in the next couple weeks.
Atlanta had 11 players finish the season on the 60-day injured list. They’ll all need to be activated or placed on waivers within five days of the end of the World Series. This clears five spots, and three more will open when Raisel Iglesias, Marcell Ozuna and Charlie Morton reach free agency. Ha-Seong Kim will need to decide on his $16MM player option. They’ll need to drop at least two more players (three if Kim doesn’t opt out) within the next few weeks.
These were all relatively easy cuts, though it marks an unceremonious end to Kelenic’s disappointing time in Atlanta. The Braves took a lot of dead money off Seattle’s books to acquire the former top prospect during the 2023-24 offseason. He hit .231/.286/.393 with a near-30% strikeout rate across 449 plate appearances in 2024.
Atlanta signed Jurickson Profar to replace him as the starting left fielder. With Ronald Acuña Jr. rehabbing ACL surgery and Profar getting suspended for a failed PED test, Kelenic had another shot early in the season. He batted .167 and played his way off the MLB roster by the third week of April. Kelenic’s only MLB appearance after that was as a pinch runner on July 30.
Things were equally bleak in Triple-A. The 25-year-old hit .213/.286/.309 with only four homers while striking out at a 27.6% clip with Gwinnett. Kelenic has never found sustained MLB success but had reliably hit Triple-A pitching until this year. As a former sixth overall pick, he’ll get minor league offers, but it’d be a surprise if he commands a major league contract.
The Braves grabbed Díaz off waivers from the Dodgers in early September. They had roster space to burn and wanted a look at a former All-Star closer who had recorded 28 saves with Cincinnati just last season. Díaz had an uphill path to a 2026 bullpen spot and certainly didn’t do much to convince the Braves to keep him around. He walked five batters and gave up five runs (four earned) in 2 2/3 innings. Díaz had a nightmare season between three teams, giving up 17 runs over 17 2/3 big league frames. He also struggled to a 5.61 ERA across 25 2/3 Triple-A innings.
Díaz made $4.5MM this year in his first trip through arbitration. He would’ve made something close to or matching that if he were tendered a contract. That’s an easy pass for the team coming off the season he had. Díaz has never had strong command, and his velocity and strikeouts have dipped since his excellent first two MLB campaigns. The 29-year-old could also be in minor league deal territory.
The Braves acquired Dunning from the Rangers in July. It was a salary dump for Texas and one of a number of buy-low fliers that Atlanta took as members of their pitching staff kept dropping to injuries. Dunning was an up-and-down reliever for the Braves and gave up 12 earned runs in 10 innings. León, a longtime third or fourth catcher, finished the season on the MLB roster after Sean Murphy underwent hip surgery. He appeared in five games and went 1-12. Williams got into 45 contests as the last man off the bench and designated position player pitcher in blowouts. He hit .129 and owns a career .212/.270/.280 slash over 349 plate appearances.
Future KBO superstar Jarred Kelenic.
Nobody will want him.
There are worse fates, he is a classic AAAA player.
I don’t even know if he’s AAAA good
I’m not sure he could even make that work. He’s been Clint Hurdle 2.0 without the injury history. M’s and Braves fans probably have more insight into what went wrong for Kelenic, but he had every opportunity to succeed in both places.
What went wrong is he is very tense and extremely hard on himself/negative/pessimistic. He tries way too hard to make stuff happen. Has no confidence. But I like the guy because he plays HARD. Making Acuna’s comment this year quite silly.
That was always my take on him. His own personality gets in his way. Needs to chill a bit, let the game come to him.
Sounds like an interesting player. Maybe the Dodgers can pick him up and he’ll relax that competitive mindset so he can let his talent work.
Low cost, high upside. No need to rush him, and if he performs well enough someone will trade for him.
Jarred Kelenic, that is…
The Pirates should take a flier. That team’s offense is anemic and they have plenty of abs to give. Gamble on his upside.
I was just thinking that and I would be upset honestly. They need to stay away from these kinds of guys. He’s very similar to Suwinski who can also play center but is a non tender candidate as well. I’d like them to aim higher.
I expect the Pirates again won’t spend any money. Kelenic is at minimum an athlete. Which makes him a better dice roll than Canario again.
But totally agree they should be signing actual ML hitters.
If he’s very good at AAA, he might not make it to the big league team. But he can help raise the floor in their minor league system.
He swings at everything. Literally e v e r y t h i n g.
Not really. Maybe he did in Seattle. Again your name is in reference to about the most d bag thing ever.
He likes the high cheese. But he isn’t bad about swinging at balls way off the plate. He does chase some but he’s not one of those lefties swinging at every breaking ball at their back foot.
He will go to Korea or Mexico, become a slugging first baseman, return to America and get a multi year deal. Then flame out again after the first year.
…And takes that cash and opens up a Spokane-based baseball academy named The Hitting Klinic that later gets shut down for fraud.
One year later he is chartering boats in St. Croix under the pseudonym, Coleman — a popular cooler brand.
Wait if they’re sent to Gwinnett are they allowed to leave, or are they stuck there indefinitely like the Capitol One guy who sleeps in his pyjammies at the branch im worried will they get to eat.
AA screwed the pooch on that Kelelnic deal.
Can’t win them all. He gambled and lost on that one.
And he blew it extending Michael Harris II. Good general manager, not what he is often idealized as.
blew it on Harris? the best defensive CF in baseball who was one of the hottest 2nd half hitters? pretty bad take tbh. 24 years old so still getting better, and locked up for $9M per year is a steal.
@kuriz Some people are fans of sports news and stats and dont actually watch said sports. They out themselves in time as we can see above.
Harris is not the best defensive CF. And a hot 1/2 does not make a guy a given. The article focuses on Kelenic – A young guy who shows so far in his case not all young players get better. If Harris doesn’t get consistently better he may not be a steal, especially on the back end of his deal. Who would have thought any of Albies’ option pick ups would be questionable a few years ago?
You mean the CF that has regressed offensively every year since his rookie season? And has a .268 obp? You’re glad to have him locked up?
@Nyyfan — Back end of that deal? Do you mean the one that he’s guaranteed through his age-29 season at no more than 12M/season? They secured him through his prime for RP dollars, before inflation. Regardless of Albies’ options getting picked up — his contract compared to his production (even with time missed due to injury) is still a ridiculous heist, though maybe not as ridiculous as once perceived. AA does these deals b/c there’s not that much risk, unless they are injured and/or bottom-out (like Kelenic)…and that one he didn’t give up much in prospect capital (injured Cole Phillips).
Yeah I think they would have no problem finding numerous takers for Michael Harris at full freight.
Not that I think they would sell low on him.
Or perhaps some fans see an August headline and think it applies to the whole second half. Or does a .635 OPS in September still qualify as one of the hottest second half hitters?
20/20 with great defense Michael Harris?
Yes, the guy with a career 107 OPS+, still only 24 years old, and plays one of the best CF (a premium position) for 9.8M AAV (next 5 years), not inc. 5M buyout. You’re only getting has-been RPs for that in free agency.
The .268 obp Michael Harris.
Yes, the career 107 OPS+ Michael Harris II.
horaceallen
does a .635 OPS in September still qualify as one of the hottest second half hitters?
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You need to pick a lane and stay in it. Does September count more than the whole second half? His second half OPS was .845. Combined with his defense, that’s really good.
@redmatt Yes they mean thag CF who is still only 24 and produced 14 WAR already in his career. Many players are yet to even reach MLB or establish themselves as starters by age 24.
Buxton better CF
Getting better how ? Best season been his rookie yr. Well below .300 OBP Trash
Albies option is an easy pickup. $7m and $4m buyout. Where going fine a 2nd baseman this cheap.
🤮
This has to be a record of how close ones .obp is to their BA in A full season. I have not heard of a BA so high with an obp so low. Sure guys have worst, but this was someone who hit over .250 with a 20/20 season. Wild
Let’s see what comes next in this series: 133, 116, 99,88.
Lots pf 24 year olds have OPS+ of 88. Not many of them get signed long-term. But, it’s not my problem.
@redmatt — You’re cherry picking one season 3 years into an extension with a 9M AAV in a career in which he’s still a 107 OPS+ with excellent defense at a prime position.
It seems like your problem.
All 64 games he plays.
Yeah the Harris extension looks pretty bad now.
Which is not to say he’s totally worthless or anything. Just a big overpay based on the player he’s turned into.
True but he’s not a leadoff guy. He can hit lower in the order where that obp won’t seem as bad especially with his great defense.
You can 110% tell the commenters that actually watch the game versus the people that just play fantasy baseball and never look at the advanced metrics or move the stat range past whole season lol
Head case, a little too much intensity. I feel for that cooler.
I’ll take 4 Kelenic deals if it gets me 1 Sale deal.
Can’t bake a cake without breakin’ a few eggs.
Or break coolers…
Yeah seems like his good deals were just taking the A’s to the cleaners. That why I want my teams gm to work with them, they can’t evaluate talent in trades. Sent away tons of all stars for nothing but a power hitting catcher.
Gwinnnet isn’t that Coldplay chic that lot of people don’t like in the 80s
Gwennet Stefani, 90’s ska-punk goddess. Coldplay chic couldn’t hold a candle to her. I wouldn’t mind being outrighted to Gwennet either.
In other words, you would holla back at that girl!
Yep, be perfectly happy in that dugout.
You guys are bananas.
B-A-N-nanas
Thought she was an actress in Iron Man.
Just some GA. guy that signed that dumb old Constitution.
That’s quite a prospect haul circa 2021
Kelenic got almost every vote
for the Dookie of the year!
I am appalled and aghast Kelenic was able to clear waivers. C”mon not even Pittsburgh wanted to tap into this upside play ??
The Pirates might’ve been the only team who seriously considered it.
I would also say the Rockies, but they don’t currently have a GM.
Not with him making over a million dollars, no. Pittsburgh’s cheap
ISOB-When Jed does his inevitable signings of FA pitchers to throw in AAA instead of their own guys Dunning might be a worthwhile investment.
Actually having seen Dane Dunning pitch quite a bit in the AL West for a few seasons now, he is not necessarily just a scrub to be mocked. Don’t know if I would hand him a spot in the rotation right off the bat, but he definitely could fill a bulk role in the bullpen, 2-3 inning lefty. Hey Mike, whoever did the brainwork to bring over Keller and Palencia deserves a kudos. Game 1 so impressive especially, good luck in Game 3…Cubbies should wrap it up.
I’m assuming it was the scouting dept. as usual to which the MLB baseball world gives zero credit. I’m guessing Breslow was involved in the Palencia trade as it was awhile ago and Kantrovitz probably for Keller. When I heard the Cubs had Keller I did my usual eye roll and then I watched him in ST and couldn’t believe it was the same guy I saw get blown up for the Royals. He is an absolute must re sign. Definitely one of the years best comeback stories. Cubbies in 3. Callis and his weird friends give no credit to the Cubs scouts then why is it that every year other teams raid the Cubs scouting dept.? Go figure.
Don’t wish that evil upon us.
Meanwhile fully expecting an offseason of adding Starling Marte, Luis Urias, and an old reliever.
Wow, what a hard fall from grace for Alexis Diaz.
When Alexis lost it, he really lost it.
Cole Phillips is eternally injured.
Bigger surprise: how quickly Diaz lost the ability to pitch or Kelenic losing what little ability he had to hit?
Diaz losing the ability to pitch. Kelenic, aside from like April 2023, has done very little else in the Major Leagues. Diaz was a legit late-inning/high-leverage option for 2 years.
Agreed.
Kelenic was always potential but Diaz actually had success at the MLB level.
What the hell was AA thinking? Just a god awful trade.
whole lot of nothing
Club salary. Granted it was for a gold glove winning first baseman. Unless I’m mistaken.
Bobby Boucher II
What the hell was AA thinking? Just a god awful trade.
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You have no idea of was involved in the trade, do you? It’s okay, you can admit it.
Cole Phillips an injured lotto ticket who has gotten hurt even more and has yet to throw a pitch in a professional level. He’s 100x more likely to be a minor league free agent than a major leaguer at this point. He gave up ALL that and took on some bad cash to gamble on JK.
He gave up little and got little.
@non – Olson wasn’t part of that. This was a deal with the Mariners that also dumped salary.
Kelenic will be known best for giving Raleigh his Big Dumper nickname .
Should of traded him th the Angels for Soler
So trade him for another old declining DH instead Marcell. No.
The 2018 draft is pretty fascinating to look at now:
mlb.com/news/mlb-draft-pick-by-pick-selections-ana…
Kelenic at 6 made a ton of sense considering the way the board fell for Seattle. Can’t really call it a huge miss given his grade and their position.
Kyler Murray to the A’s turned out to be quite a story.
Boston snagging Casas at 26 looks like a steal now.
I thought Joey Bart was going to be a stud. He’s been pretty good as a Pirate.
Kelenic was actually drafted by the Mets and traded to Seattle later that year in a package for Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz.
The Mets also drafted and traded Pete Crow-Armstrong, in that case for Javy Baez.
That’s why you can’t be scared of trading a prospect – sometimes they work out, often times they don’t.
Yep. I screwed that up.
Nick Madrigal at #4 had potential as a contact hitter, but he flamed out, as well.
What an aweful draft.
Wasn’t Kelenic offered a significant contract by Seattle to buy out several years of his free agency that he turned down? Or am I thinking of someone else?
No you’re right. He turned down i believe a 8-9yr extension at the time. He should’ve taken it.
Ah he pulled a Jeff Francouer but on Mariner level
It’s not completely irredeemable or a failed gamble for him. He’s only at arb1 so a team may take a flyer on him.
I think you are correct…
He really bet on himself…
usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nighte…
Kelenic is the poster child for why young players are called prospects.
There are way too many high-profile failures to call anyone the poster child.
Lanidrac: Irony is a literary and rhetorical device in which a situation or event reveals a reality that is opposite to what is expected, intended, or appears to be true. Irony often serves to create humor, suspense, or deeper meaning.
Blue Baron is an MLBTR comment boards institution and a main reason to read Mets related posts when the main team you root for is in the opposite league on the other coast.
Ignorant: Or actually playing in the postseason. 🤣
The context did not indicate any kind of irony. If you want to use irony in text when it’s not obvious, then you need to spell out that it’s what you’re doing.
Kelenic Guy on Reddit is gonna be in shambles
So, how many different players did the Braves have on the 40 man this year? Like a hundred?
I think they had about 40 pitchers.
Soto: Hat tip to you as well!
Meanwhile, the Cardinals placed only ONE pitcher on the MLB injured list all season long and still gave up 4.65 runs per game (with overall strong team defense).
White Sox should sign Dunning to a minor league deal
He might be dun
it’s 2 or 3 spots that need to be opened. Charlie Morton is a free agent at the end of the year as well as Ozuna and Iglesias
Almost choked on that one during dinner
Say what you will, I and most of us thought Kelnic was a stud, didn’t work out, it happens
Which, as I said, is why they’re called prospects.
No doubt Baron, that doesn’t change the fact that I am surprised by the types of struggles Kelenic has had, the hit tool, fielding and running I though would be better than this, Which to your point……you never know.
Still 25. Wouldn’t write him off yet. There’s a reason he was drafted high and may just need to grow into the majors and get a comfort level. Sometimes we forget they’re still just kids and some more than others and just need time to get acclimated and confident. He started out in a tough park in Seattle and a trade can be altering to a kid his age.
I wouldn’t mind the Mets bringing him in for spring training and see if he can stick. Defense is good, has speed and power – the tools are there.
I would love to see him find a way padam. And your right it takes some guys longer, but the expectations have no doubt shifted you would be ecstatic if he became a solid 4th outfielder/platoon guy.
padam: Actually 26, 27 next July. Ever so close to busted prospect territory if not already there.
I’m surprised that Austin Cox wasn’t on this list. He is another easy cut for the Braves. Joel Payamps, Nathan Wiles, Chuckie Robinson and either Brujan or Wisely and maybe Rodriguez are all candidates to be cut soon
Robinson and Brujan are easily at the top of that list.
It’s good to be reminded that not every budding star the Mets trade lives up to the hype like Crow-Armstrong. We’ll see what happens with all the lesser prospects they gave up at the trade deadline. Remarkable how all four of those acquisitions didn’t come through. Helsley the worst with Rogers and Soto merely below average. Mullins did what he had been doing with the Orioles: batting about .210. Not Stearns’s shining moment.
Joel: It’s good – and important- to be reminded that not every prospect any organization trades lives up to the hype like Crow-Armstrong.
Rogers had a 2.3 ERA. I don’t know that you could’ve expected much more than that. Certainly not below average
Poor Jarred. I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but it appears that he really needs a shrink or some serious Lexapro or an OCD medication. He’s his own worst enemy on the field, and especially at the plate.
Good riddance to 3 bums
I hear UPS is going to be a player in the Kelenic sweepstakes.
Braves murderers row has declined a lot faster than anyone would have guessed. Acuna can’t stay on the field, and Riley, Murphy, Olsen, and Albies are all shadows of their former selves. They can still pitch, especially when Strider is healthy, but a couple of years ago that lineup was terrifying. Now it’s just a bunch of names.
Olson was again a 6 WAR 1B. That’s extremely great production.
Strider isn’t the same pitcher and their arms weren’t healthy. I’d be more concerned about the rotation this offseason than the lineup by a wide margin.
Some incompetent GM might give Jarred a major league contract
Kelenic = Mets 2026 CF?
Won’t be surprised if Mets bring in Alexis to try and woo Edwin Diaz to stay.