The Braves announced that Dominic Smith and Kyle Farmer have been signed to Major League split contracts for the 2026 season. The two veterans were already in camp on minor league deals, but as Article XX(B) free agents, Smith and Farmer had the ability to opt out of their contracts five days before Opening Day if they weren’t added to the Braves’ Opening Day roster.
These new deals don’t guarantee that Smith and Farmer break camp with the club, as the nature of split contacts naturally gives Atlanta some flexibility in moving either player down to the minors while on a set salary. In essence, the Braves bought themselves some extra time in figuring out their 26-man roster while sidestepping the first Article XX(B) deadline. The Braves have two open spots on their 40-man roster, so they can easily accommodate officially selecting Smith and Farmer closer to the team’s first game.
Both players are out of minor league options, so by guaranteeing some higher salaries via these split contracts, the Braves could be trying to make Smith and Farmer a little less appealing to teams that might try to claim them on the waiver wire in the future should Atlanta designate either player for assignment.
From Smith and Farmer’s perspective, the split contracts lock in some guaranteed money, whether at the minor league level or if either indeed ends up on Atlanta’s 26-man. Rather than opt out and re-enter the uncertain free agent market, Smith and Farmer seem comfortable in staying with the Braves, as some opportunities may have arisen to help clear their path to roster spots.
Jurickson Profar will miss the entire season on a PED suspension, while Ha-Seong Kim will be out until at least through April while recovering from a torn finger tendon. The door may now be open for Smith to earn some at-bats as a left-handed hitting option for the DH spot, even if his usual first base spot is obviously filled by Matt Olson on an everyday basis. Smith has played in just one Major League game as an outfielder over the last four seasons, but he could get some occasional backup work if Ronald Acuna Jr. or Mike Yastrzemski needs a rest day.
For Farmer, Mauricio Dubon taking over the shortstop role in Kim’s absence means the Braves are short some versatile infield depth. Jorge Mateo and Brett Wisely are also competing for bench jobs and Eli White is expected to be the primary backup outfielder, and both Wisely and White are also out of minor league options.
Martin Perez is another minor league signing in Atlanta’s camp, and MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Perez has been told he isn’t making the team. However, the veteran southpaw will forego his first Article XX(B) opt-out clause and remain in the organization as a Triple-A depth farm.
😬
Produce and you stay and if not you go down.
So every minor leaguer of all time?
Im just happy to have actual usable players for depth. Biggest difference I’ve seen between Snitker and Weiss so far. You don’t want either of these two to get 500 ABs but Farmer hits lefties well and Smith has been decent or better almost his whole career.
Some things stay the same. AA still shopping on the clearance rack. This will be another wasted year. Neither them are major league level players. AA needs to use the 15 million on someone that can help you win games. These two do not.
Season hasnt started yet and you already know this is a wasted season? AA did more than shop on clearance. Yaz and Suarez plus resigning Iglesias greatly improved this club. Farmer and Smith would be better bench bats than Luke Williams. The Braves have a very light schedule to begin the season. They will be better than last season. That 15 million is best to hold until the deadline.
You aren’t bright.
Braves mediocrity era about to go hard
Another clueless bozo or troll.
Tap in for Monday Night Raw to see Dirty Dom “Mysterio” Smith and Rowdy Rowdy Tellez duke it out, live from The Battery Atlanta…
Finally, something exciting to look forward to
As an avid and lifelong Braves fan, I am hoping we have a great season and close to what a lot of places on the markets have between 86 and 89 wins. I do feel that those market predictions are off in that they see the green flags with the roster in terms of the high end talent, but don’t see our red flags which is lack of depth that can’t really cover the lack of injuries we have. Yes, Profar’s $15 Million may come into play at some point to help address that, but other than the master stroke in 2021 in which everything came together with additions such as Soler, Rosario, and Pederson, but the roster builds these days are looking like Frank Wren era Braves although in a different way. The Braves do promote prospects better under Anthopolous than under Wren, and Anthopolous’ process of signing young core players at below market deals were the right process, but we have wound up in the same spot as the Frank Wren Braves (who made foolish big FA signings.) A top heavy roster that if a few players do not play or play well then the season is sunk because of the afore mentioned lack of depth, and pretty barren farm system. I want things to go well, but this is a year that will act as a compass on how the future of The Braves will be.