CLEARED OUT: Braves Non-Tender Alek Manoah and Carson Ragsdale, Taking Care of Two More Roster Departures1.vc
(ATLANTA) — The Atlanta Braves took care of their final roster decisions ahead of Friday night’s non-tender deadline, officially parting ways with two right-handed pitchers: Alek Manoah and Carson Ragsdale.2 The non-tenders finalize the Braves’ 40-man roster as they prepare for the free-agent market.3
The move signals that General Manager Alex Anthopoulos (AA) is prioritizing 40-man roster spots and avoiding even minor financial risk on two pitchers with significant injury or consistency questions.
The Departures: Risk vs. Reward
The decision to non-tender the two right-handers was the final piece of business on a busy deadline day, which saw the Braves agree to terms with several other arbitration-eligible players, including utilityman Mauricio Dubón and relievers José Suarez and Joey Wentz.4
| Player | Status / Reason for Non-Tender | 2026 Projected Salary |
| RHP Alek Manoah | Acquired via waiver claim; high-risk coming off Tommy John surgery; deemed too far away from MLB readiness. | $\sim\$2.2$ Million |
| RHP Carson Ragsdale | Acquired off waivers; not arbitration eligible, but the team chose to open the 40-man roster spot. | League Minimum |
The Manoah Gamble Ends
The most notable departure is Alek Manoah. The Braves had claimed the former Cy Young finalist off waivers late in the 2025 season, hoping their vaunted pitching infrastructure could “fix” the hard-throwing righty.5 However, given his recovery from Tommy John surgery and projected $$6$2.2$ million salary, AA ultimately decided the risk and timeline were not worth the roster spot, opting instead for a healthier, more predictable depth option.7
Ragsdale Opens a Spot
Carson Ragsdale, a pitcher the Braves had only recently acquired, was also cut loose.8 While not arbitration-eligible, the move clears a valuable space on the 40-man roster, which Anthopoulos can now utilize on a free agent or a trade acquisition over the next two months.
By non-tendering both players, the Braves are clearly demonstrating a strategy to allocate their limited financial and roster resources only to players they believe can contribute immediately to their 2026 championship pursuit.
