The Atlanta Braves have been the best team in baseball as of Thursday, with a 61-32 record, despite some significant injuries to their starting rotation and a sometimes shaky bullpen.
Their first priority should be to upgrade the bullpen; it would also be prudent to find some starting pitching depth. They don’t have to jump all over the boat, but having a reliable middle-of-the-rotation veteran could help a lot.
It would be shocking if the front office didn’t add a few players to a legitimate World Series contender, as they have been willing and able to do the past few years during the trade deadline.
Here, we’ve highlighted two players the team ought to focus on and quickly examined two others they should stay away from.
To say that the Braves’ relief corps is a stark weakness would be stretching it, as the team’s bullpen ranks third in the majors with an ERA of 3.58.
The team could use another experienced late-inning reliever, though, as A.J. Minter (44 G, 10/13 SV, 4.91 ERA) and Raisel Iglesias (30 G, 16/18 SV, 4.23 ERA) both had less than stellar seasons. Minter is currently on the injured list due to inflammation in his shoulder.
Scott Barlow has been one of the best in the business since the start of the 2021 season, posting a 2.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 with 51 saves and 20 holds in 174 appearances for the Kansas City Royals. The 30-year-old is controllable through 2024, and the Royals have given every indication that he will be the next to go after trading away rental reliever Aroldis Chapman already this summer.
If San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader is made available in the upcoming weeks, the Braves could go all in on the 2023 season by adding him to their bullpen and swinging for the fences.
Even as a two-month rental with free agency awaiting for the first time this offseason, the five-time All-Star won’t come cheap, but he could very well be the missing piece that puts the Braves over the top.
With a 1.03 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 13.4 K/9 in the late innings this season, the 29-year-old has once again shown himself to be nearly unhittable in the late innings. He has also limited opponents to a.134 average with just two extra-base hits in 140 plate appearances.
