Joel Payamps

The 32-year-old right-hander made 12 appearances out of the Braves’ bullpen during the 2026 campaign, registering an unsightly 8.22 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and a 9/4 K/BB ratio over 7 2/3 innings of work. He’s now free to peddle his wares on the open market.

Payamps passed through waivers unclaimed over the weekend and will remain with Atlanta as organizational relief depth. The 32-year-old struggled to an inflated 8.22 ERA across 7 2/3 innings for Atlanta this season.

It’s unclear what has happened to Payamps. From the beginning of the 2021 season through the 2024 season, Payamps had a 3.01 ERA, 15.4 percent strikeout-minus-walk rate, and nine saves in 233 1/3 innings. That gave him the 34th-best WAR among all relief pitchers with at least 200 innings over that span. However, he has not been the same pitcher over the last two seasons. Perhaps somebody else will take a chance on the 32-year-old.

The Braves got Payamps off waivers from the Brewers in late September, but he became a free agent after being outrighted earlier this month. Now he’s back at a $750,000 paycut from the $3 million he made last season. An excellent setup man for the Brewers in 2023 and ’24, Payamps got off to a poor start last season and spent much of the year in the minors. Still, his velocity was fine and his stuff-type numbers held steady, making him a decent bet to bounce back. Overall, he has a 3.46 ERA and a 160/44 K/BB in 156 innings over the last three years.

All will likely become free agents. Payamps, an excellent setup man for the Brewers in 2023 and ’24, struggled throughout last season and was designed for assignment by Milwaukee on Sept. 20. The Braves picked him up for the last seven days of the season, and he allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings. They might have some interest in bringing him back at a cut from the $3 million he earned in 2025.

Payamps, a terrific setup man in 2023 and ’24, has a 7.23 ERA in 23 2/3 innings this season, having spent most of the summer in the minors. The Braves presumably will give him a bullpen spot for the final six days of the season. They’ll also have his arbitration rights for 2026, but keeping him would mean paying him at least $2.4 million and probably closer to $3 million unless he’s willing to take the maximum paycut.

Payamps has been a key component of Milwaukee’s relief mix over the last three years, but has struggled mightily this season to an inflated 7.23 ERA across 23 2/3 innings over 28 appearances.