After Payamps was designated for assignment by the Brewers in September, Atlanta stepped in to claim waiver rights, and Payamps logged two appearances and 2 2/3 innings with his new team before the end of the season. The Braves then cut Payamps from their 40-man roster and (since he was named earlier in his career) he opted for free agency rather than accept the assignment.
The move was essentially an early non-tender on the Braves’ part, as Payamps was expected to earn $3.4 million in his second trip through the arbitration process. This new contract brings Payamps back into the fold at a lower price tag, and one that the Braves would certainly be more comfortable paying in the wake of a disappointing 2025 season for the veteran reliever.
Payamps posted good but unremarkable numbers during his first four big league seasons before stepping up as a member of Milwaukee’s bullpen in 2023-24. The reliever posted a 2.78 ERA, 26.1% strikeout rate and 6.7% walk rate over 129 2/3 innings, emerging as a trusted setup man for closer Devin Williams.
In 2025, however, Payamps’ effectiveness suddenly went south, posting a 6.84 ERA, 20.5 K%, and a 7.7 BB% over 26 1/3 combined innings with the Brewers and Braves. While his 4.16 SIERA wasn’t anything special, it reflected at least some of the adversity (like a .346 BABIP and a 60.4% beach rate) that went into Payamps’ performance.
The Braves are investing $2.25 million on the idea that Payamps can regain his previous form with a change of scenery. Payamps is out of minor league options and thus cannot be sent to Triple-A without first being designated for assignment, although his guaranteed contract provides leverage for the team. Because Payamps has less than five full years of MLB service time, he would forfeit any remaining guaranteed salary if he were to decline another outright assignment in favor of free agency. The additional salary could also be a bit of a deterrent for other teams who might otherwise be interested in claiming Payamps off waivers following a DFA.
Payamps was one of many players eligible for the Arb (along with players like Immetry, Vidal BrujanAnd Jake Fraley) picked up by the Braves later in the season, as the club essentially started the offseason early by auditioning some intriguing depth prospects. Manoah was non-tendered and Fraley was waived, but Brujan agreed to a contract that avoids arbitration and now Payamps is back in the mix.
If the 2023-24 version of Payamps resurfaces, Atlanta will have added a solid bullpen arm at a budget price. The Braves also re-signed Raisel Iglesias will come closer to return, and more aid seems likely given the continued uncertainty about the situation Joe Jimenez‘s health status. It’s possible that Iglesias could be the most expensive of the Braves’ bullpen ads, as the team may prefer to save its bigger dollars for its other needs and pursue less expensive hidden gems on the relief front.
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