Camargo, Jackson, Dayton get 1-year deals

December 3rd, 2020

ATLANTA -- Infielder , right-handed reliever and left-handed reliever have been given a chance to stay with the Braves after the club avoided arbitration by signing each of them to a one-year contract.

was the Braves’ only arbitration-eligible player who was not tendered a contract before Wednesday night’s deadline. The 32-year-old outfielder is now a free agent.

The Braves tendered contracts to each of their other arbitration-eligible players: , , and . They will have their respective 2021 salaries determined by an agreement or the arbitration process, which will begin before the start of Spring Training.

The pre-tender deals signed by Camargo, Jackson and Dayton didn’t include a guaranteed contract. So like other players signed through the arbitration process, the Braves have the option to release any of these players for a fraction of their salary before the end of Spring Training.

Camargo avoided being non-tendered by agreeing to a one-year, $1.36 million deal. The versatile infielder drew a $1.7 million salary in 2020 and was projected by MLB Trade Rumors to receive between $1.9-$2.3 million via arbitration.

Camargo’s willingness to take a pay cut is a reminder that the uncertainty of this year’s free-agent market will make some players more hesitant to test it. He impressed while serving as Atlanta’s everyday third baseman for a majority of the 2018 season, but he has struggled in a backup role in each of the past two seasons.

After losing his third-base battle against Austin Riley last season, Camargo continued to show his rapid decline. The 26-year-old veteran still possesses one of the game’s top infield arms, but his range has decreased, lowering his value at shortstop. He has also produced a 63 OPS+ over the past two seasons.

Jackson agreed to a one-year, $1.9 million deal, which essentially met MLB Trade Rumors' projection. The former closer drew a $1.825 million salary in 2020, when he posted a 6.84 ERA as his strikeout rate drop from 33.7 to 15.2 percent.

Dayton will return to the Braves with a one-year, $900,000 contract. The left-handed reliever posted a 2.30 ERA in 18 appearances in 2020.