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Braves Sign Ian Hamilton to One-Year Contract Ahead of 2026 MLB Season
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- Braves Sign Ian Hamilton to One-Year Contract Ahead of 2026 MLB Season
The Atlanta Braves have had an offseason full of activity, and one area they have made a clear priority is strengthening their bullpen. First, Atlanta re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year contract worth $16 million, ensuring stability in the ninth inning.
Next, they added right-hander Robert Suarez on a three-year, $45 million deal to serve as the setup man, a significant upgrade given that Suarez was closing games for the San Diego Padres in 2025, a team that reached the postseason.
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Most recently, on Friday, the Braves announced a one-year non-guaranteed contract for right-hander Ian Hamilton , further deepening their relief corps. A non-guaranteed deal means Hamilton will have to earn his roster spot in spring training, as the Braves are not obligated to pay the full salary if he is released before the season begins.
Hamilton's arrival in Atlanta adds another layer of intrigue to the Braves' bullpen makeover. At 30 years old, Hamilton brings six seasons of MLB experience, including the past three with the New York Yankees . His best stretch came in 2023, when he emerged as a reliable weapon out of the bullpen. That year he delivered a 2.64 ERA across 58 innings, striking out 69 hitters while generating both swing-and-misses and weak contact.
Since then, however, Hamilton's performance has been inconsistent. Injuries have played a role, most notably a right lat strain in 2024 that sidelined him for nearly three months. The setback disrupted his momentum, and when he returned, he struggled to regain the sharpness that defined his breakout season. In 2025, Hamilton posted a 4.28 ERA with 42 strikeouts over 40 innings in the Bronx and eventually finished the year in Triple-A. He was not considered part of New York's postseason run.
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For the Braves, the non-guaranteed nature of his contract reflects both opportunity and caution. Hamilton will have to prove himself in spring training to secure a roster spot, but if he can rediscover the form he showed in 2023, he could become a valuable middle-to-late inning option. Atlanta's bullpen already features established arms in Iglesias and Suarez, and Hamilton's upside gives the team another potential weapon to lean on during the grind of a long season.
In a bullpen already reshaped by high-profile signings, Hamilton's bid to rebound offers the Braves both depth and potential upside, underscoring their commitment to building a relief unit capable of carrying them deep into October.
