Two Players Elect Minor League Free Agency

A pair of players from NL East teams have elected minor league free agency, according to the MiLB.com transactions page.  The details…

Payton Henry (Phillies)

Henry played in 20 games with the Marlins in 2021-22, which remains the catcher’s only on-field action in the majors.  The 2026 season saw Henry return to a big league roster but without any in-game action, as the Phillies selected his minor league contract in July but then optioned him back to Triple-A four days later.  The 29-year-old backstop is a journeyman who has played for five different organizations during his pro career, with two separate stints for the Brewers (his original club) and the Phillies.  Henry has a respectable .253/.324/.402 slash line over 1121 career plate appearances at the Triple-A level, and he hit .186/.314/.209 over his 51 Major League PA for Miami.

Joel Payamps (Braves)

Payamps first came to Atlanta on a waiver claim in September 2025, and he re-signed with the team on a one-year, $2.25MM deal after he was outrighted and elected free agency last winter.  The right-hander struggled to an 8.22 ERA over 7 2/3 innings, and while his 4.18 SIERA was much more favorable, Payamps was designated for assignment and outrighted again in May.  Accepting the outright meant that Payamps could retain the rest of his guaranteed salary, and thus Payamps spent most of the year at Triple-A Gwinnett, posting a 3.89 ERA, 28.3% strikeout rate, and 10.2% walk rate over 39 1/3 innings with the Braves’ top affiliate.  Though Payamps has a 7.15 ERA in 34 MLB innings in 2025-26, he’ll likely land another minor league contract on the strength of his track record as a strong bullpen arm for the Blue Jays, Royals, A’s, and (particularly) the Brewers from 2021-24.