The Braves have a few areas that must be bolstered if they want to get over the hump in 2024. However, no area needs more additions than the bullpen. With several relievers set to test free agency, Atlanta has a lot of work to do this offseason to make this a formidable group, and their goal should be for this bullpen to be significantly better than it was in 2o23.
If you missed any previous parts to this series, follow the link below:
Top 10 Free Agent Relievers for 2024
10. Andrew Chafin
Chafin has a club option that probably will not be picked up after he struggled in 2023 with the D-Backs and Brewers. However, he’s a lefty reliever that turned in magnificent seasons in 2021 and 2022.
9. David Robertson
Robertson is nearing the end of his career, but he still has some juice left in the tank if he wants to continue pitching. He posted a 2.05 ERA with 14 saves for the Mets before being dealt at the trade deadline. That production fell off when he was with the Marlins, but Robertson still ended the season with a more than respectable 3.06 ERA.
8. Matt Moore
Moore turned into a full-time reliever in 2022 with the Rangers and broke out to the tune of a 1.95 ERA over 74 innings. He parlayed that into a deal with the Angels and had another really solid campaign, recording a 2.56 ERA over 52.2 innings with three different teams.
7. Joe Jimenez
The Braves needed relief help last offseason as well and swung a deal for Joe Jimenez. A back injury caused him to start the season slow, but he came on strong over the final few months. Atlanta gave up a high quality prospect in Justyn-Henry Malloy for Jimenez’s services. Letting him walk a year later after getting bounced in the divisional round again would not be wise business.
6. Craig Kimbrel
Kimbrel isn’t anywhere close to the star closer he once was, but he’s still been an ultra-valuable reliever in a deep Phillies bullpen. At this point in his career, he’s probably more of a hired gun rather than a guy who is going to command a multi-year contract, and a reunion in Atlanta would greatly benefit the Braves bullpen.
5. Robert Stephenson
Stephenson hasn’t had a stellar career, but he became one of the most unhittable pitchers in baseball after being traded to the Rays in early June, posting a 2.45 ERA and 14.4 K/9. He struck out 41.8% of the batters he faced while with Tampa.
4. Pierce Johnson
Alex Anthopoulos took a flier on Pierce Johnson at the trade deadline after he struggled with the Rockies, and it paid off. In 24 appearances with the Braves, he posted a 0.76 ERA and 12.2 K/9. Bringing him back to Atlanta needs to be a priority.
3. Aroldis Chapman
Chapman rebuilt his value this season after signing a one-year, prove-it deal with the Royals. He hasn’t been as effective since being traded to the Rangers, but he’s exactly the type of reliever the Braves should be targeting. Someone who can flat out sling it north of 100 MPH with plenty of postseason experience. The fact that he throws from the left side is also a plus.
2. Reynaldo Lopez
The Braves have to place an emphasis on velocity this offseason when it comes to their relievers. It’s an undeniable fact that guys who throw hard out of the bullpen have more success in October, and very few pitchers throw as fast as Lopez, who averaged over 98 MPH on his fastball. He also finished the season really strong with the Angels and Indians after the trade deadline.
1. Josh Hader
Say what you want about Hader’s unwillingness to go multiple innings during the regular season, but he’s arguably the best closer in all of baseball. The hard-throwing lefty is coming off the best year of his career in which he posted a 1.28 ERA, and the Braves could use an arm like his at the back of their bullpen.
—
Photo: Photographer: Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.