The Atlanta Braves have officially signed reliever Ian Hamilton to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, as they seek to strengthen their bullpen for the upcoming season. The team created a spot on their 40-man roster this afternoon when they placed Anthony Molina on waivers. Hamilton is represented by ALIGND Sports Agency.
After he was non-tendered by the New York Yankees last month, Hamilton found himself back on the market. Despite having a projected arbitration salary that was only slightly above the league minimum, he spent the final two months of the past season on optional assignment to Triple-A. In the 2023 season, he made 36 appearances, pitching a total of 40 innings with a 4.28 ERA. He managed to strike out 25% of batters faced, although he struggled with a 13.3% walk rate.
The 30-year-old right-hander has accumulated six seasons of MLB experience with teams such as the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, and Yankees. Notably, he recorded a career-best 2.64 ERA along with a 29% strikeout rate during his tenure with New York in 2023. However, his performance has not been as consistent in recent years, as he has seen a decline in ground ball rates and an increase in walks. While he boasts an impressive swing-and-miss rate on his slider, his sinker, which averages 95-96 MPH, has not yielded the desired results.
Hamilton’s contract marks his third and final minor league option year, meaning he will compete for a middle relief spot during spring training. If he fails to secure a position on the Opening Day roster, the Braves would face the decision to remove him from the 40-man roster, either through a trade or by placing him on waivers.
With 3 to 5 years of MLB service time, Hamilton has the right to reject any outright assignment should the Braves pass him through waivers unclaimed. However, this would come at the cost of his salary. If he can demonstrate effective pitching and earn a spot on the roster, the Braves could retain control over him via arbitration until 2028.
The Braves’ bullpen appears to have limited flexibility, particularly with Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, and Aaron Bummer firmly established in the back end. Dylan Lee, who has minor league options, is expected to remain on the roster, while Hamilton will join Joel Payamps, Danny Young, and other options like Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, José Suarez, and Joey Wentz in vying for a coveted spot. Any injuries during spring training could potentially create more openings, but it’s clear that not all these pitchers can stay on the roster as the season approaches.