ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Braves on Wednesday outrighted outfielder Jarred Kelenic, right-handers Alexis Díaz and Dane Dunning, catcher Sandy León and utility player Luke Williams off the 40-man roster.
Díaz, Dunning and Kelenic elected free agency on Thursday.
The Braves, who missed the postseason for the first time since 2017, had 11 players finish the regular season on the 60-day injured list. They’ll all need to be activated or placed on waivers within five days of the World Series, which is set to begin Oct. 24 and could play on until Nov. 1.
Wednesday’s move immediately cleared five spots, and the team will have three more once Charlie Morton, Raisel Iglesias and Marcell Ozuna become free agents. Infielder Ha-Seong Kim will need to decide on his $16 million player option for 2026. If Kim opts out, Atlanta will need to drop two more players (three if he stays) in the next few weeks.
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This marks the end for the failed experiment in Kelenic, whom the team acquired from the Seattle Mariners during the 2023-24 offseason, while taking a load of dead money in the process. The former top prospect slashed .231/.286/.393 with a 29.6% strikeout rate with the Braves in 2024.
Atlanta Braves’ Jarred Kelenic reacts after striking out against Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Taj Bradley with the bases loaded during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)(Chris O’Meara | AP)
That slash line dropped to .167/.231/.300 with a 35.4% strikeout rate in 65 at-bats in 2025. Kelenic, 26, was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett in late April, with his latest MLB appearance came as a pinch-runner on July 30. Kelenic hit .213/.286/.309 with only four homers while striking out 27.6% of the time in Gwinnett.
Díaz, 29, was picked up off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers in early September, and proceeded to walk five hitters while allowing five runs (four earned) in 2.2 innings. The former All-Star earned 28 saves with the Cincinnati Reds in 2024, but had a down season with the Reds, Dodgers and Braves in 2025, pitching to an 8.15 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 17.2 innings.
Dunning, 30, was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers in July and, despite pitching to a 3.38 ERA in 10.2 innings with the Rangers, allowed 12 runs in 10 innings with the Braves. He was promoted to the big-league club when needed and was used as an innings eater while the team struggled with injuries to its pitching staff.
León, 36, filled in as the backup catcher behind Drake Baldwin while Sean Murphy finished the season on the injured list. Williams hit .129 in 34 at-bats and dons a career line of .212/.270/.280.