3 Players Who Won't Be on the Braves Roster After 2020 Season

The Atlanta Braves beefed up their roster this offseason with hopes of gearing up for a World Series run, but we're now unfortunately stuck waiting to see when the year will begin. What's even worse is that the Braves won't get a full season of some of the studs they signed to one-year deals a few months back.

Atlanta's core will remain intact beyond 2020, but they can't bank on these guys coming back in 2021.

3. Mark Melancon

Melancon was acquired in a trade with the Giants last year and he'll make $14 million in 2020 before hitting free agency. He had a solid stint with the Braves across 23 games, but it's hard to believe with all the pitching talent Atlanta has in the farm system that they'll bring back a 36-year-old Melancon, who is on the decline, back for 2021. It's possible, but not entirely likely.

2. Cole Hamels

If Cole Hamels pitches extremely well in 2020, he'll price himself out of Atlanta. If he pitches poorly, the team won't have any interest bringing him back after giving him a one-year, $18 million contract for this season. They were expecting him to help mentor a young starting rotation, which is already off to a bad start given the delay, and whenever the season starts, this crew will be thrust into action with the expectation to hit the ground running. It doesn't exactly sound like a good plan right now.

1. Marcell Ozuna

Ozuna signed a one-year, $18 million deal with the Braves to rebuild his free agency value and gear up for the 2020 offseason. That's already off to a bad start given the circumstances, and it's unlikely the Braves will bring him back for 2021, given their depth at the outfield position in the farm system. They have Cristian Pache and Drew Waters waiting to get the call and it's hard to believe Alex Anthopoulos will pay a hefty amount to keep Ozuna around if those studs are major league ready.