Atlanta Braves bullpen strategy so far this winter has been more about quantity

When it was introduced on November 4th that Joe Jimenez underwent surgical procedure to restore cartilage harm in his left knee and that he would miss most (perhaps all) of the 2025 season, it turned crystal clear the Atlanta Braves can be making a big addition to their bullpen someday within the offseason that had simply began.

It was even believed the first purpose the Braves unexpectedly declined the $8M group possibility they’d on Travis D’arnaud, a preferred and productive participant, was they wanted these funds to particularly handle a brand new bullpen want. That feeling turned if much more prevalent on January seventeenth when it was introduced that bullpen stalwart and excessive leverage possibility AJ Minter was signing a 2-year take care of the New York Mets.

The Braves had misplaced their two finest set-up males, one to harm and one to free company, and simply banking on inner choices to fill these essential rolls appeared like a foolish gamble for a group attempting to win a World Collection. And even sillier when there was reportedly nonetheless room within the funds for robust additions.

However right here we’re, the primary full week of Spring Coaching and full-squad work outs in North Port, Florida, and the Braves have but to make a confirmed, high-leverage addition to its bullpen, regardless of the main subtractions.

What they’ve carried out as an alternative, is usher in a military of relievers on minor league offers to associate with the unproven guys they’ve on the 40-man roster, and primarily simply thrown numbers on the downside. You usher in sufficient low value, high-variance choices, you may at the least moderately count on (or hope and pray) one or two of them will hit. Here is the complete record of potential relievers the Braves have introduced on this spring:

Buck Farmer, Jake Diekman, Dylan Covey, Chad Kuhl, Chasen Shreve, Dany Jimenez, Brian Moran, Enyel De Los Santos, Jordan Weems, Wander Suero, Kolton Ingram, and Enoli Paredes. All introduced in on minor league contracts. (Please memorize the record, there can be a quiz on the finish.)

And naturally all these names have been introduced in to compete with the gathering of bullpen choices the Braves have already got on the 40-man roster. These names embrace Domingo Gonzales, Daysbel Hernandez, Rolddy Munoz, Angel Perdomo, Anderson Pilar, and Amos Willingham. Then you must add the starters on the 40-man that might find yourself contributing out of the bullpen in some unspecified time in the future: Ian Anderson, Davis Daniel, Dylan Dodd, Grant Holmes, AJ Smith Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep. And on high of these names, there are much more prospects who aren’t presently on the 40-man who, by robust efficiency, might ascend all the way in which as much as Atlanta in some unspecified time in the future throughout the 2025 season. Examples being guys like Drue Hackenberg, Jhancarlos Lara, JR Ritchie, Blake Burkhalter, and extra after that.

The 4 guys we all know fairly comfortably can be within the bullpen to begin the yr, pending good well being, are Raisel Iglesias, Dylan Lee, Pierce Johnson, and Aaron Bummer. That group actually has the potential to be a very good high 4, although yet one more confirmed identify added to that group to perhaps knock a type of guys down a peg actually would not harm.

Meaning there are 4 potential bullpen spots accessible that should be stuffed. Holmes and Anderson are each out of choices, but it surely seems like each can be wanted within the rotation to begin the season (one other space the Braves might afford so as to add), and aren’t present choices for the bullpen. An addition to the rotation someday earlier than Opening Day might change that, as will the inevitable return of Spencer Strider in some unspecified time in the future in April or Might.

Perdomo can be out of choices and Pilar was a Rule V choose, which means neither man might be optioned with out being subjected to waivers first. That actually helps each their instances except once more, somebody extra confirmed is added between now and Opening Day, then you definitely’re rather more snug dropping certainly one of them, particularly Pilar. Dasybel goes to get each likelihood to make the group as a result of they’re excessive on him general, however his downside is he has minor-league choices when quite a lot of different guys do not. Typically instances, as soon as we get all the way down to the top of spring, that issues greater than the rest.

After which that final spot is a whole wild card and will go to any variety of 20 totally different guys. Guys like Farmer and Diekman and Shreve have loads of main league expertise so perhaps that provides them a leg up.

There have been stories the Braves have been in on Jeff Hoffman and Tanner Scott at various factors within the offseason, and clearly had both gotten to the end line, this is able to be a special weblog all collectively. However neither did, and so that is the present assortment of arms. David Robertson is the final identify on the free agent market that might moderately be anticipated to be a devoted high-leverage reliever for a World Collection contender, and if that’s the identify they add, once more, this dialog may be very totally different.

The purpose is, the Braves resolution to their bullpen downside this winter has, at the least thus far, been pushed by extra amount than high quality, filling the gaps with various low value, excessive variance choices hoping to seek out worth in volatility. It might completely work. It might additionally completely not. We’ll all discover out collectively.