Laureano, Canning among 5 let go at non-tender deadline

ATLANTA -- Outfielder Ramón Laureano earned a spot in the Braves’ starting lineup after being released by the Guardians this year. Right-hander Griffin Canning came to the team in a trade almost immediately after the end of the World Series. But the anticipated cost for both in 2025 exceeded Atlanta’s comfort zone.

So, Laureano and Canning joined the free-agent market after the Braves non-tendered them on Friday, as well as pitchers Huascar Ynoa, Royber Salinas and Ray Kerr. The team’s other arbitration-eligible players -- left-handed reliever Dylan Lee, outfielder Eli White and outfielder Jarred Kelenic -- were tendered contracts for the 2025 season.

The Braves’ need for an outfielder was recently enhanced by the revelation Ronald Acu?a Jr. could miss the season’s first two months while recovering from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. Michael Harris II, Kelenic and Laureano were the most likely internal options to fill the three outfield spots.

But with Laureano expected to make approximately $6 million via arbitration, the Braves opted to look for a different option.

Laureano was claimed by the Guardians after being designated for assignment by the A’s in August 2023. He avoided arbitration by signing a one-year $5.15 million deal with Cleveland last offseason. But he was released after producing a .494 OPS over 83 plate appearances for the Guardians.

Needing an outfielder after Acu?a was injured on May 26, the Braves gave Laureano a Minor League deal and promoted him to the Majors after he produced a 1.028 OPS over 14 games with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Laureano hit .296 with a .832 OPS over 67 games for Atlanta. He steadily earned more playing time and by the time September arrived he had become the team’s everyday left fielder.

Canning wound up spending even less time in the organization. He came to the Braves in an Oct. 31 trade for Jorge Soler, but Canning, who made $2.6 million this season and produced a 5.91 ERA in 32 outings (31 starts), was not part of Atlanta’s future plans. The team did save significant money on the deal, however, considering Soler was due $32 million over the next two seasons.

Ynoa created a lot of buzz when he posted a 3.02 ERA over his first nine appearances (eight starts) of the 2021 season. But he has been plagued by injuries since May 16, 2021, when he broke his right hand after punching the dugout bench in Milwaukee. He produced a 5.05 ERA over the nine starts he made after returning that year and made just two more ineffective big league starts the following season.

Ynoa underwent Tommy John surgery after producing a 5.68 ERA over 18 appearances (17 starts) for Gwinnett in 2022. He missed all of the 2023 season and then posted a 6.15 ERA in 12 appearances (five starts) for Gwinnett this year.

Kerr appeared in 10 games out of the bullpen this season, while Salinas has yet to make his big league debut.

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The Braves also announced Friday that they hired Hugh Quattlebaum and promoted Carlos Méndez to assistant hitting coach roles under Tim Hyers.

Quattlebaum, 46, has worked in various hitting coach and developmental roles for the Diamondbacks, Mets and Mariners over the last seven years. This is his first full-time position on a Major League coaching staff. Méndez, 50, has spent the last 17 seasons coaching in the Braves’ Minor League system.