Add Alex Colome and Aaron Bummer to the long list of relievers Alex Anthopoulos has reportedly inquired about. Chicago’s Bruce Levine of 670 The Score informs us the Braves are among several teams looking at the White Sox relief pieces. Atlanta is poised to be busy over the next week in search for pitching and has been rumored to be in on relievers such as Mychal Givens, Will Smith, and Ken Giles as well.
Of all the arms mentioned above, Colome will probably cost the least prospect-wise. He’s having a spectacular year, boasting a 2.33 ERA with 21 saves, but his FIP of 3.95 suggests he’s benefiting from some luck that is out of his control. The one-time All-Star is also due over $7 million this year, and his final year of arbitration in 2020 schedules to pay him even more. If the Braves want to avoid giving up top prospects for relief help and still add an arm with a track record of success, Colome is among their best options.
Bummer is a lefty reliever the White Sox don’t have to sell, and if they do, they will be looking for a treasure chest of prospects. The southpaw has a 1.73 ERA, and while he too is benefitting from some luck that is out of his control (3.17 FIP), it doesn’t change the fact that he’s been ultra-impressive over his brief three-year career.
Last season, Bummer had a FIP of 2.40 in 37 appearances. He averages 8.7K/9 innings while keeping the ball on the ground and avoiding home runs. The 25-year-old is poised to be a late-inning option for a long time and comes with four years of control remaining. Levine also states the White Sox view him as their future closer, so someone is going to have to blow them away with prospects. Judging by how Anthopoulos ignored the bullpen this offseason, I doubt the Braves are that team.