The Braves avoided arbitration hearings with both of their arbitration-eligible players.
The Braves settled with outfielder Jarred Kelenic on a $2.3 million salary for 2025. Dylan Lee agreed to a $1.025 million salary.
MLB Trade Rumors, which offers salary projections for arbitration-eligible players ahead of each offseason, predicted Kelenic to make $2.3 million and Lee to earn $1.2 million.
This was the first year of arbitration for both Kelenic and Lee. They made the $760,000 league minimum in 2024, so they were due for nice raises this year.
Last winter, the Braves acquired Kelenic from the Mariners. The outfielder hit .231 with a .679 OPS. He had 15 homers and 45 RBIs. He played terrific defense and ran the bases well. He showed flashes of his offensive potential, and even had a nice stint in the leadoff spot during the summer, but eventually lost the starting job to Ramón Laureano.
Lee should be a key member of Atlanta’s bullpen this year. A season ago, he posted a 2.11 ERA over 59-2/3 innings, with 76 strikeouts. Lee could be one of manager Brian Snitker’s top weapons, especially if the Braves don’t re-sign lefty A.J. Minter.
With salaries for Kelenic and Lee now locked in, the Braves’ cash payroll sits around $200 million and their luxury-tax figure is around $217 million.
The Braves have around $24 million to spend before surpassing the $241 million luxury-tax threshold. They’d reset their luxury-tax penalties if they don’t hit it.
In December, though, president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos downplayed the penalty for teams who cross the threshold for three consecutive years — a 50% tax on overages. Anthopoulos explained that he just bakes the taxes into whatever budget he has in a given offseason.
The Braves likely still need an outfielder, a quality starter and a good reliever this winter. Spring training begins in just over a month.
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