The Braves will decline their end of the $7.5MM mutual option on outfielder Billy Hamilton’s services for 2020, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). Hamilton will instead receive a $1MM buyout.
Hamilton was a late-season pickup by the Braves, claimed off waivers from the Royals in mid-August when Atlanta was suffering from a spate of outfield injuries. Hamilton ended up appearing in 26 regular season games (with a .692 OPS over 48 PA) for the Braves and two postseason games, coming off the bench twice in the NLDS. Since Hamilton was acquired purely out of necessity and $7.5MM is a hefty price for a player of Hamilton’s limited hitting ability, there was never any doubt that Atlanta would decline the mutual option, though the Braves are in the market for some outfield help this winter.
Over 353 total plate appearances for the Royals and Braves, Hamilton batted only .218/.289/.275, with a 50 OPS+ and 50 wRC+. After seven years in the big leagues, Hamilton is little more than a speed-and-defense specialist at this point, though to his credit he is still one of the sport’s very best baserunners and defensive outfielders. The 29-year-old’s skillset is sure to land him a bench job somewhere, though his days of being an everyday player are likely at an end barring a late-career turn-around at the plate.
I don’t think more analysis is necessary…Billy will be a free agent & someone might pick them up as a pinch runner for off the bench/emergency defender.
And yet it’s you that decided to expand by summarizing precisely what the post says.
I’d like to piggyback onto that and say that his speedy/glovey ways should allow him to land somewhere. Great speed. Fast.
Look for him to get a bench spot unless he has a late career change at bat
Is this the year the active roster expands by 1 player? He would be perfect for that last bench spot
I think the only option we knew 100% wasn’t gonna be exercised…. would love to have him back on a bench role at a much cheaper cost though.
If they get a starting outfielder through trade or FA, then there might not be room for him on the roster. I’d rather have Joyce back than him.
No doubt. Minor league deal ideally. But I don’t see us picking up a FA or trading for a starting outfielder. I predict we pickup NM option honestly and that he’ll play all the time
How close is Pache to being major league ready?
I think he’s a half a season to season away. If like our historical prospects he could be up much earlier. And honestly I want him up. Wouldn’t mind waters up also if he would freaking stop striking out. But I’m simply predicting the Braves will pick up NM option and will play him every day. Not that’s what I want
Yeah I gotcha, I’ve just been bad about prospect watching lately. Thanks.
I don’t see Atlanta trading for an outfielder. They have Pache & Waters waiting, with Acuna in RF, that’s the OF of the future. The only wild card would be Mookie Betts, but I still don’t see that.
Hamilton would be fine for the 26th spot on the expanded active roster.
Need to decline the options on Teheran, and Markakis and use that money plus the Keuchel money to make a run after a TOR starter.
Who you thinking? Cole will top Price’s record-high, Stras will get paid when he opts out but my money is on SD going all out on the native. Ryu could be interesting for much less money, but a lot more risk. Wheeler is a perfect fit, but many are pegging him at $120MM deal, which is risky for his track record, though he could be ascending. Really interested to see what Rendon’s contract will look like and where. He could be an AAV king if he’s serious about not wanting to play at 36.
Psssh you know Snitker is standing over AA making sure he picks up Nick’s option. Your 2020 everyday LFer…..Nick Markakis!
I presume madBum will be the target
I can’t believe you people call yourselves Braves fans and think Atlanta is going to sign a pitcher that will be asking or getting 25+ million a year. That is not what the Braves do. The Braves missed the boat on Kimbrel. I thought I read during the winter the Braves would be interested in Kimbrel for a 2 or 3-year contract. 3 yrs. 53 million was pretty good. The Braves showed in the playoffs just how bad they needed him. We can’t go into next yr. with Melancon as our closer. Don’t really know who we could get now. Just have to hope a young pitcher steps up, maybe like a B. Wilson. Don’t resign Dallas or pick-up Julio’s year. Maybe resign Julio if they can’t get Baumgarner or Wheeler on about 1 or 2-year contracts. The Braves don’t need a whole lot and not much can be done to upgrade this lineup. Catcher and bullpen about the only spots at this time. If they resign Donaldson fine, if not Riley is there. If they resign Josh, Riley can play OF. Culberson and Camargo off the bench. Waters and Pache soon. I think one of them could or at least make the coaching staff have to make a decision coming out of spring training.
You just hope…? Lol, yeah that’ll work!
Gerrit Cole, Gerrit Cole Gerrit Cole
In your dreams, in your dreams, in your dreams.
smh not going to happen
The Braves aren’t going to sign a pitcher that is going to cost 25-30 million a year for 5 years. And I don’t blame them. They have too many good ones hear or on there way.
Going after and actually signing are 2 different things but I want the braves to at least make an effort to get the pitching they need because that’s what cost this team. If we had just 1 other dependable starter who isnt mentally weak we would have won that series against the Cardinals and we may have beaten the Nats after that and who knows. But having guys like Folty, Teheran and Keuchel isn’t going to get it done.
But we also have options in the trade market maybe the Braves take a chance on Kluber or someone like him. But we need to have the money freed up.
The starting pitching is not why we lost to the cards. With Freeman hurt, Donaldson MIA, and Kakis out of sync, there was little chance we could have gotten past the gNats had we even gotten there.
I think Folty having a meltdown and only getti g 1 out in game 5 has something to do with the Braves going home early. Plus Keuchel not being able to go deep in either game. Plus Teheran was an afterthought on this year and last year’s postseason roster. That’s a main reason plus I’ll agree with you on Matkakis, Donaldson and Freeman although Freeman was hurt. But gotta think if we had a Gerrit Cole or a dependable starter we win an extra game. But who knows maybe Snitker would have used him in only one game like he did Soroka.
Snit blew the series with the Cards in game 1. Instead of using Jackson and Melancon, he should have used Fried for 3 innings. It didn’t help that the guys that were supposed to carry this team, the veterans, Freeman, Nick and Josh didn’t hit, but the Braves scored enough runs anyway. But blowing the 1st. game with a lead was the downfall.
I agree. The Braves could potentially have $50-60 million to burn this offseason (though I think a chunk of that SHOULD go to Donaldson).
I believe the time has come to move on from Markakis, as the Braves have gotten all they’re going to get from him. I’d like to see them go after Marcell Ozuna as the ‘Plan A’ (most expensive option), but also look for some solid stopgap as a Plan B as well. With Pache and Waters (and maybe Trey Harris??) near their ETAs, there’s no need to invest a ton of money in an outfielder. Ozuna may very well be too expensive (he made $12.250 million last season).
I really like Wheeler and think the Braves could get him at a reasonable price… maybe $18-20 million AAV? A pitcher like him would give the Braves three studs at the top of the rotation in Soroka, Wheeler and Fried. Sean Newcomb could make a comeback this Spring as well.
Regardless, I’m definitely in favor of them going big in regards to starting pitching. IMO, this year’s WS really illustrated how critical it is to have three true frontline SPs.
Don’t need Ozuna, he strikes out too much. Nick will be back and why not. He didn’t decline much if any last year, you know what you are going to get from him. Nick gets big hits in big spots. He may not hit 25-30 Hrs., but he will hit 280+. Ozuna will want 5+ yrs. and the Braves don’t need him for that long. If you are a Braves fan, you should know they are cheap. Good or bad that is how they are. If Wheeler would sign for 1-2 yrs. at 18-20 a year to show he is healthy, that would be great, but over that not so great for the Braves. I don’t think they need to go big on starting pitching. Bumgardner on a 1-2 year contract would be nice. Don’t need to trade for a starter on the downside, like a Kruber. We rebuilt for a reason, to get good young pitching and cheap for a few years. That is starting to pay off. We will have Soroka, Fried, Folty, Newk. back next year. Sending Folty down to the minors helped him mentally. It helped Newk also and I think it will show next spring in him fighting for a starting role. Need a closer, we can’t go into next year with Melancon or Jackson as our closer. I think Wilson will make a good one, too many pitchers after a starting role.
Even though it is not the Braves way to spend big money for a pitcher, I think they should make an exception & bid high for Strasburg who just became a free agent. If they are willing to re-sign Josh Donaldson for $25+ million/year, they can go higher for one of the best pitchers in baseball. Of course, there will be offers from many teams.
You looking at probably 30+ million a year for 6-7 years. 180-210 million. I hope the Braves don’t do that. We have 2-3 Strasburg’s coming and a lot cheaper.
I think the question at this point is how long a career Billy Hamilton can forge with just his two skills. Would be cool to see him do this for another decade!
As long as he is fast and a good defensive replacement he will have a bench role until he loses his speed.
Remember how long Rickey Henderson played just as a pitch runner/defensive replacement. Til his mid 40s.
Only players that have a longer shelf lives are Loogeys.
If the “every pitcher has to face 3 batters” rule stays in place, their shelf life was just cut down by a lot.
@joedirte4life
Henderson’s glove was in decline but he still drew walks at a 16% rate and produced a .360 or better OPS with some speed remaining and a little bit of pop. I miss Ricky. He was fun to watch. Ask him. He’ll be more than happy to tell ya how good he was.
So will Cooperstown.
He won’t tell you but Rickey will
Even discussing Hamilton in the same post with Henderson is just plain stupid..
Dave Roberts a managers..just saying
Well, a team looking for a CF that can field and run the bases but can’t hit has 2 major options at this point –
Trade something of value to the Red Sox for Jackie Bradley Jr. and pay him $11m in 2020; or pick up a year-younger Billy Hamilton for $2m maybe $3M.
Tough choice.
(Good chance the Phillies GM has already started negotiating with Bloom. Stupid Money Time!).
If you think Billy Hamilton and JBJ are the same player, you’re not paying attention. JBJ isn’t the best with the bat, no question, but he’s not an empty shell like Billy. JBJ is an everyday player at least.
At that price tag it is no surprise at all that they declined his option.
Talk about the lack of centerfield options out there now a days. Makes Trout standout even more.
Yanks should pounce on this guy. With Hicks out the starting line-up our starting OF looks like Judge/Gardner/Frazier with Tauchman under contract. Maybin stated he wants to come back, so he’s an option. If they signed Hamilton to a minor league deal with a nice bonus based off of mlb games played, maybe he’d signed. Someone is bound to be on the IL. I’ll take his glove first defense in CF with Gardner in left.
Be interesting if Markakis is released. He would be a nice fit for the Yanks too.
The Yanks have trade chips; if they want another outfielder, they will do better than Hamilton or Markakis. Neither is better than Frazier/Maybin/Tauchman. Stanton is likely to see some time in LF.
With launch angle and hitting homers all the rage, there’s not much of a market for powerless hitters who only offer speed. The days of watching a Juan Pierre or Vince Coleman’s slap-and-dash approach are long gone. Still, given Billy’s speed and defensive prowess, he very well could be a good fit as a 25th man on certain teams.
Think he lands with the Phillies. Odubel put them in a bind. Not as a FT Starter but as a platoon, 4th OF.
I’d rather have Haseley and Quinn platoon in CF if Odubel doesn’t return. But Odubel still has two years at around $6 million per year left on his contract, so I doubt the Phillies would release him. Might trade Odubel if someone wants to take a shot. But Odubel hasn’t been any good since June of 2018.
Quinn can barely stay on the field tho. I’m ready to move on finally from Quinn. Odubel is 7 M and 10M per spotrac.
Not getting Cole. Boras guy. Boras will want record breaking contract for him plus Stras is rep’d by him too. Look at 2nd tier starters Braves won’t overpay.
I see him going to the Mets for 1/$1.5M as a late inning replacement for Nimmo in CF and pinch runner. He’s fine as a 5th OF because of the speed/defense.
Can’t steal first base.
Re-sign JD
Re-sign Joyce
Pick up Markakis option
Pick up Julio’s option
Sign Avisail Garcia
Sign MadBum
Trade Julio & Riley for Buster Posey & $$$
You had me until the Posey trade. I don’t know how Riley’s career is gonna turn out but I wouldn’t trade him straight up for Posey even if SF picked up 100% of the salary. Buster is done. Plus he has a no trade clause.
I agree Buster is declining but
A. The ballpark he played in
B. The position in the lineup he was expected to produce at
He would not be expected to carry the offense on this team. His value would be leading this young staff.
I understand he has a NTC but he grew up in the area and from watching the College World Series I know he grew up a Braves fan.
And why would he want to be a part of a rebuild with Bart breathing down his neck in the twilight of his career ???
He would be signed for 2 years so it wouldn’t effect Contreras timeline
I’m not too big trading Riley right now personally. I think his value is at it’s lowest. I know he had a terrible 2nd half but we shouldn’t forget that we could have traded him last off season for JT Realmuto. Settling for some old guy way past his prime bow would be a mistake. If we were gonna trade Riley for a catcher we should have done it last off season when we turned the Marlins offer down. I think Riley’s first half showed he has a lot of promise if he can work on his craft and evolve as a hitter. I would like to see him start next season at AAA and hopefully figure out how to hit the slider and stop swinging at garbage there. If he can do that he would easily be a long-term serious slugger for the Braves.
Posey has full no trade protection and is set to make over $21 million in 2020, not to mention he’s a declining player. Heck, Tyler Flowers was better than Posey in 2019 and he can’t hit a left-handed pitcher to save his life (.155 AVG vs. LHP in ’19).
I agree with re-signing JD and Joyce. Austin Riley isn’t ready yet for a full season at 3B, and Joyce can rake versus righties.
I’m still on the fence regarding Julio. For me, it depends on the overall plan: are the Braves going to go for an ace or a second-tier starter? If it’s the former than I say let Julio walk and use the savings. If it’s the latter than they may need an innings eater like Julio.
He is set to make $21 million but the Giants would be willing to eat d sad one of that.
At that position you value other things other than just offensive output. He would be coming in to lead that young pitching staff.
Also he is not expected to have to carry an offense like in San Fran. On this team he would be the 6th or 7th best hitter in the line up. In San Fran he would be expected to be 1 or 2.
His NTC is irrelevant he grew up a Braves fan and is from the area. Why wouldn’t he want to come home and play for his boyhood team in the twilight of his career when his other option is to be on a rebuilding team with their top prospect breathing down his neck.
I don’t think $10 million from the Giants is an unreasonable get that brings it down to $16 million a year for next 2 yrs. His leadership to a young staff is worth that IMO.
You don’t let Julio walk for nothing. His production under that contract holds value. The Yankees, Braves or Dofgers may not be beating down your phone but I am sure a team like the Reds or Royals among others would value his innings eating in a young rotation.
Was it just me or did Hamilton get picked off a lot when he was with the Braves?
If Mike Rizzo was the Braves GM the Braves would have done a whole lot better. Look at all the guys he picked up, guys like Kendrick, Suzuki, Sanchez, Cabrera, Rodney, Hudson. Some of these guys were not wanted by their respective former teams and some of the aforemementioned guys had key clutch moments in the World Series, namely Suzuki and Kendrick. How the Braves let Suzuki go and Sanchez go I’ll never know.
The Braves won’t do anything in the post season until they get a clue about team construction and also not writing off guys that are ‘over 30’. The Nationals proved that age has got nothing to do with it, it is how the player is performing when they are over 30, some decline faster, others don’t decline at the same rate comparatively speaking.
Keuchel should never have pitched at Busch stadium on 3 days rest, that’s on Snitker, Keuchel should have been pitching at home when we needed to win as his ERA was far superior at home, otherwise what was the point of the money paid for him as our #1.
There aren’t many options the Braves should excessive in my humble opinion. Flowers is kinda a must simply because the catching market is so thin and even if we get the best we need a decent backup. Tehran and NM need to be let go.
Posey would be a good add for most teams. But if Posey waives his NTC, the Giants would have to pay half his salary. Plus no one is gonna give up one of their top five prospects for him.
With rosters expanding to 26 in 2020, Hamilton would essentially be a great weapon for any team in need of outfield depth/speed.
Are the Braves going to bring up RF Drew Waters in 2020? Switch hitting 2B/SO machine.