Atlanta Braves officially decline Brad Hand's 2024 option, making him a free agent

The Atlanta Braves have declined to bring back Brad Hand on his $7M option, paying him a $500k buyout

The Atlanta Braves announced today on social media that they have declined their portion of a $7M mutual option for reliever Brad Hand, making him a free agent. Atlanta will pay a $500k buyout.

The #Braves today declined LHP Brad Hand’s option for the 2024 season.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 5, 2023

Hand, 33, was acquired by the Atlanta Braves at the trade deadline from the Colorado Rockies for minor leaguer Alex Barger. Hand put up a 4.54 ERA and 3-1 record across his 40 appearances for Colorado, but unlike bullpen-mate Pierce Johnson, Hand was worse with Atlanta - 2-2 record and a 7.50 ERA in his twenty appearances. 

Hand's contract signed with Colorado originally included a $7M team option that was going to convert to a mutual option if Hand finished 25 games in 2023. He didn't, finishing only 15, but there was another clause that vested the option as a mutual option if he was traded during the season. 

Hand's struggles after the trade made the decision to decline the $7M option easy for Atlanta - they've already committed almost $35M to their bullpen in 2024, putting them in the top five in all of baseball both in total dollars and as a percentage of payroll. There may be another signing or two for the relief corps, but reclamation projects and low dollar signings are more likely than a large salary.

That doesn't bode well for Atlanta's other two club options left over in the bullpen - Kirby Yates has a $5.75M club option with a $1.25M buyout, while Collin McHugh has a $6M club option with $1M buyout. 

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