The Braves had a massive hole to fill in left field this offseason, which they accomplished by signing Jurickson Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract.
After being acquired last offseason, Jarred Kelenic did not show enough to be an everyday starter. Eventually, he was supplanted by Ramon Laureano, who the Braves claimed off waivers, which turned out to be one of the better under the radar pickups of the entire season.
Laureano appeared in 67 games for the Braves, hitting nearly .300 with 10 home runs and an OPS of .832. Originally, there weren’t any expectations for Laureano, but he played so damn well the Braves seriously considered keeping him around for 2025.
Ultimately, Anthopoulos thought it was best for both parties to evaluate their options. The Braves decided against tendering Ramon Laureano a contract, but left the door open for a reunion later in the offseason. Of course, after the signing of Jurickson Profar, that became highly unlikely, and now, Laureano has found himself a new home in Baltimore.
Free-agent outfielder Ramón Laureano in agreement with Orioles on one-year, $4M contract, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 4, 2025
The Orioles have a loaded outfield, so Ramon Laureano will likely fill in when necessary, but he’s a fantastic veteran presence that can hit for average and power, while also providing above average defense in the outfield. These are the kind of deals that often get overlooked, but can be the difference in a team winning the division by the end of the season.
—
Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.