The #Braves today agreed to terms with RHP Joel Payamps on a one-year contract worth $2.25 million for the 2026 season.
Former Blue Jay Joel Payamps re-signs with Braves
Photo credit: © Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Nov 23, 2025, 18:30 ESTUpdated: Nov 23, 2025, 18:16 EST
Joel Payamps will remain an Atlanta Brave.
On Sunday evening, the 2021 World Series winners announced that they’ve signed the former Toronto Blue Jay to a one-year deal worth $2.25 million.
Payamps pitched in two games for the Braves in 2025, posting a 3.38 ERA and 6.51 FIP in two and two-thirds innings. Most of his season was spent with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he had a 7.23 ERA and 4.32 FIP in 23.2 innings pitched, giving the 31-year-old a 6.84 ERA and 4.54 FIP.
It was a down year for the right-handed pitcher. In 2024, Payamps had a 3.05 ERA and 3.73 FIP in 59 innings pitched, with a 25.1 K% and 7.7 BB%. The year before that, Payamps had a 2.55 ERA and 3.19 FIP in 70.2 innings pitched with a 26.8 K% and 5.9 BB%, by far the best season of his career.
Payamps began his career in the Colorado Rockies system, but made his big league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019. He spent two seasons there before being claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays in 2021. In 30 innings with the Canadian team, Payamps had a 2.70 ERA and 4.20 FIP, with an 18.5 K% and 9.2 BB%.
For some reason, he was designated for assignment in mid-July and traded to the Kansas City Royals for cash considerations. Payamps posted a 4.43 ERA and 3.96 FIP in 20.1 innings to end the 2021 season. The 2022 season saw him start with the Royals, but he finished his season with the Oakland Athletics. For the season, he had a 3.23 ERA and 4.24 FIP in 55.2 innings pitched.
Payamps is one of a handful of relievers to have signed in recent times. The Braves re-signed Raisel Iglesias on Nov. 19, while the Chicago Cubs signed Phil Maton on Nov. 21. Still, there are a bunch of high-leverage relievers remaining on the market, such as Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams, and Robert Suárez.
Buckle up, it’s going to be a fun few months!
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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