Another former Atlanta Braves player has found a new home, as outfielder Ramón Laureano signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal broke the news on Feb. 4, and while it may not have been the biggest free-agent signing of the offseason, it’s definitely an intriguing move.
Why the Braves Let Laureano Walk
Laureano became a free agent when the Braves opted not to tender him a contract on Nov. 22.
The decision raised some eyebrows—Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter even ranked him as the fifth-best player to hit the open market due to a non-tender. However, Atlanta had its reasons.
With Michael Harris II expected to be back at full strength in 2024 and Ronald Acuña Jr. working his way toward a return, the Braves outfield was already set.
Laureano was the odd man out, and rather than commit to paying him around $6.37 million for the 2025 season, the Braves let him walk.
Atlanta’s Big Bet on Profar
Instead of keeping Laureano, Atlanta went in a different direction, signing 2024 All-Star Jurickson Profar to a three-year, $42 million deal.
Profar had a strong season with the Padres, posting a .280/.380/.459 slash line in 668 plate appearances and earning his first All-Star nod.
But here’s where things get interesting—Laureano actually had a better average and slugging percentage than Profar during his time in Atlanta. In 226 plate appearances, he slashed .296/.327/.505 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs.
The caveat? His sample size was much smaller, and before landing in Atlanta, he struggled with the Guardians, hitting just .143 with a .494 OPS in 31 games.
A Fresh Start in Baltimore
Despite those struggles, Laureano has a solid track record. He’s actually a year younger than Profar and has a better career average and OPS.
But the Braves clearly felt Profar was the better long-term investment, paying him nearly double what Laureano would have earned with a tendered contract.
Now, Laureano heads back to the American League, where he previously spent time with the Guardians and Athletics. He’ll also reunite in Baltimore with another former Brave, Charlie Morton.
The question now is: Did the Braves make the right call letting Laureano go? And can he take advantage of this fresh start in Baltimore? Time will tell, but this is definitely a move worth watching in 2025.
