Today marks a crucial deadline for Major League Baseball teams and players involved in arbitration. Teams were required to finalize agreements by 1:00 p.m. ET, with any unresolved cases moving to exchange salary figures by 8:00 p.m. ET.
The Atlanta Braves had three players in the arbitration process: Jarred Kelenic, Dylan Lee, and Eli White. The Braves successfully reached an agreement with Kelenic, securing a $2.3 million contract for the 2025 season. This news was first reported by Robert Murray of FanSided and later confirmed by the Braves.
As for the other two players, Dylan Lee and Eli White, updates were pending. However, the Braves quickly resolved Lee’s case, agreeing to a $1.025 million one-year contract, thus avoiding arbitration. The situation with Eli White turned out to be simpler as he was not eligible for arbitration, concluding the Braves’ arbitration dealings for the year.
Kelenic aims to improve his performance after a challenging first season in Atlanta, where he posted a .231/.286/.393 slash line, with a wOBA of .29 and a wRC+ of 86 over 118 games. Meanwhile, Lee, coming off a strong 2024 season with an ERA- of 51 and a FIP- of 76 over 59.2 innings, will look to maintain his effectiveness against opposing batters.
With arbitration matters settled, the Braves can now focus on preparing for the upcoming season.
