The Atlanta Braves were eliminated by the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card round, and now face critical decisions regarding player non-tenders before Opening Day 2025.
In a recent analysis, FanSided’s Chase Owens suggested that the Braves might part ways with Ramon Laureano before the November 22 deadline. He noted, “While Laureano performed well in crucial games for Atlanta, it seems the Braves are looking to elevate their options for starting left fielder in 2025. Although having Laureano as a fourth outfielder would be ideal, his projected $6 million arbitration cost may deter Alex Anthopoulos from retaining him.”
The Braves acquired Laureano from the Cleveland Guardians during the summer, and he quickly became an important part of their postseason push due to numerous injuries in the outfield. Owens commented, “Laureano was outstanding after the Braves picked him up from Cleveland, ultimately becoming the everyday left fielder during the stretch run.”
While Owens believes the Braves will let Laureano go, he also mentions that he could be the only non-tender candidate they might reconsider later. “I think Laureano will be non-tendered, but he’s the one player I feel Anthopoulos might revisit in February if the team still needs outfield depth,” Owens explained. He added that Laureano’s performance in 2024 could attract interest from other teams for a starting position, citing that he’s a talented player, though some of his metrics suggest he had favorable luck with batted balls last season.