"Even on a sleepy pre-Thanksgiving Sunday, the Braves found a way to make minor news by signing Joel Payamps to a one-year, $2.25 million major league deal. The Braves claimed Payamps from the Brewers late in the 2025 season, gave him a couple of appearances before the season ended, and then outrighted him before the non-tender deadline, with Payamps electing free agency in response."
"He signed with the Rockies out of the Dominican Republic, but was released and caught on with the Diamondbacks, who DFAed him after four big league appearances in two years. He then pinballed around the waiver wire from Boston to Toronto to Kansas City, with a 2021 season where he had a good ERA, okay FIP, and bad xFIP. The next season featured another DFA and him adding Oakland to places he's called home,"
"He was then part of the Sean Murphy-William Contreras, and, well, the Brewers were quickly vindicated in their plucking of him from the Oakland roster, as he had a dominant breakout 2023. 2024 was okay but a lot less impressive, as he mostly served as a generic relief guy. 2025 was a complete disaster, though, with him clocking in below replacement, with an FIP way lower than his xFIP."
"Payamps has never been much of a command artist, but that side of his arsenal completely fell apart in 2025. There doesn't seem to be an injury-related underlying cause, and his velocity has held steady. His fastball shape got more generic in 2025, but it was pretty generic in 2023, too. His slider got a lot more horizontal break in 2025, but it's not clear why that would either reflect or cause an issue."
The Braves signed Joel Payamps to a one-year, $2.25 million major league deal after claiming him from the Brewers late in 2025 and seeing him elect free agency. Payamps has moved through many organizations since signing out of the Dominican Republic, including stints with the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Royals, Athletics, Brewers, and Braves. He produced a dominant breakout in 2023, an average 2024 role as a generic reliever, and a disastrous 2025 season below replacement with conflicting FIP and xFIP indicators. Command deteriorated severely in 2025 without clear injury or velocity changes. The Braves appear to be betting on improved command, a risky proposition.
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