Today, I’ll be wrapping up this series of potential one-year free agent options — the type of deals Alex Anthopoulos is known for — with the bullpen. If you missed the first two parts to this series, click the links below.
For obvious reasons I did not do a section on potential one-year free agent options for the infield. Outside of bench pieces, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson, Austin Riley, and Travis d’Arnaud are not going anywhere. We still don’t know about Freddie Freeman, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.
The bullpen has hundreds of potential options that could be had on a one-year contract, so I won’t be covering them all. Instead, I’ll focus on some higher profile names that could be brought in on short-term deals for one reason or another.
Kirby Yates
The last time we saw Yates fully healthy, he posted a minuscule 1.19 ERA to go along with a league-leading 41 saves for the San Diego Padres. Unfortunately, that was all the way back in 2019, and he’s most recently undergone Tommy John Surgery in March of last year. With his injury at 35-years-old, he won’t receive more than a one-year deal, and the Braves were reportedly in on him last offseason. However, any potential deal will hinge on when he will be ready to start throwing again.
Daniel Hudson
For the last two full seasons (2019, 2021), Hudson has been a very productive reliever, but he struggled after being traded to the Padres from the Nationals and will be 36 next season, so I don’t imagine he will command much on the open market. Plus, his recent time in the NL East could prove beneficial as well.
Michael Lorenzon
Lorenzon’s numbers over the last two seasons have been unsightly, but in the two years prior, he was a fantastic hybrid reliever for the Reds. His stuff was explosive and getting on of Cincinnati should only help him. I wouldn’t mind taking a flier on him at all.
Mark Melancon
It’s already been reported that the Braves have at least discussed a reunion with Mark Melancon. Given he opted out of $5 million for 2022, I’m not sure he will be in Anthopoulos’ price range. However, if he’s truly looking to go to a place where he can win, there’s no better place than Atlanta.
Brad Hand
Once one of the best relievers in the game, Hand struggled at times last season, but he finished up nicely with the Mets, posting a 2.70 ERA over his last 16 appearances.
Alex Colomé
From 2014-2020, Colomé has been one of the most consistent bullpen options in the majors, which can be seen but his career 3.11 ERA, but he struggled last season to the tune of a 4.15 ERA with the Twins. At 32, coming off the worst year of his career, he could be in line to take a one-year deal in an attempt to bolster his value for one more multi-year contract.
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