3 Braves stealing money from the team thanks to bad contracts

3. Kirby Yates is unlikely to regain his All-Star form with the Braves

In 2019 Kirby Yates had a 1.19 ERA and led the league with 41 saves. He was an all-star and finished ninth in the NL Cy Young balloting. He then was limited to just 4.1 innings in 2020 and had to get bone chips removed from his elbow. Tommy John followed that the season after and Yates missed the entire 2021 season and most of 2022 as a result.

After missing the 2021 season, Yates signed a two-year $8.5 million deal with the Braves. $1 million was for the 2022 season, $6.5 million for this upcoming season, and a $1 million buyout on a $5.75 million club option for the 2024 season.

Yates returned from his lengthy absence and struggled in the nine appearances he made for Atlanta down the stretch. He allowed four runs on six hits in seven innings pitched while walking five and striking out six.

Kirby Yates can easily revert back to the all-star closer he once was, but it’s hard to bank on a guy who has 11.1 innings pitched over the last three seasons to even come close. The Braves could’ve signed someone like Andrew Chafin for slightly more to make what’s already an unbelievable bullpen an even better one.

This, like Rosario’s contract, is one that won’t kill Atlanta at all. It’s still not great value from a guy who feels more likely to hurt himself again than be a reliever worth the $6.5 million he’s getting paid.