Looking At Atlanta Braves LHP Options Who Were Released By Other Teams

Looking At Braves Options For LHP

The Atlanta Braves bullpen and rotation has been the talk of the 2016 Spring Training.  The bats have been there so far this year, but it’s the arms that have struggled.  Now, it’s decision time for the front office and the managerial staff…who will remain on the team?  Will they bring in another body?  Will they make any last minute trades?  What’s happening in the final week prior to the season?!?

Atlanta made a strange/out of nowhere roster move yesterday when they decided to reassign Alex Torres to a minor league team.

This “active players” list currently sits at 35 players.  The Braves must make a decision by noon today whether they’re adding Jeff Francoeur to the 25-man roster or if they’re letting him go.

Let’s take a look at the 20 pitchers of the 35 players that are currently listed on Braves.com

Julio Teheran – rotation

Bud Norris – rotation

Matt Wisler – rotation

Mike Foltynewicz – rehabbing to be a part of the rotation soon

Jhoulys Chacin – not on 25-man roster, but will likely make the OD starting rotation

Arodys Vizcaino – bullpen

Jim Johnson – bullpen

Jason Grilli – bullpen

Alexi Ogando – a NRI that’s looking like he’ll make the team in the bullpen

Carlos Torres – a NRI that’s looking like he’ll make the team in the bullpen

Jesse Biddle – reassigned to a minor league camp

Daniel Winkler – has impressed this ST and could make the OD bullpen

Shae Simmons – still recovering from TJS. Hasn’t pitched in 2016

Jose Ramierez – has impressed this ST and could make the OD bullpen

Williams Perez – umm, maybe the long relief pitcher out of the pen?

Eric O’Flaherty – just traded for and added to 25-man roster. Only LHP that’s still on the big league club

Andrew McKirahan – had TJS, out for 2016

John Gant – continues to pitch fantastically this ST and has a good chance to make OD team

Manny Banuelos – still contending for a rotation spot, but could he move to the bullpen and be the LHP we’re all looking for?

Who’s been cut by another team that could help the Braves?

The Braves aren’t the only team making roster cuts…every team has to do this.  Can the Braves take advantage of another teams fat and find a left-handed relief pitcher?

It’s been well documented that the Braves are in the search for a lefty, but when we signed O’Flaherty we all thought we had the two we were going with – EOF and Torres.  Wrong.

Who’s out there?  Over the past four days, here’s a list of the left-handed pitchers who have been cut

The Kansas City Royals released LHP Brian Duensing

The Milwaukee Brewers released LHP Franklin Morales

The Arizona Diamondbacks released LHP Wesley Wright

The Cleveland Indians released LHP Joe Thatcher

The Houston Astros released LHP Neal Cotts

I asked 92.9 The Game’s Braves reporter Grant McAuley about this situation

The options are currently out there, but I don’t see the Braves pulling the trigger just yet.  I expect them to wait until later this week to make any decisions.  We might as well see what else is out there before signing another left-handed pitcher.

Or, will they? Banuelos could be a possibility if that’s what they decide to do with him.