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Borderline contenders could help the Atlanta Braves bullpen

By Matthew Browning

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 17: Manager Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves pulls Wes Parsons #52 from the game in the ninth inning of an MLB game against the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on May 17, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 17: Manager Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves pulls Wes Parsons #52 from the game in the ninth inning of an MLB game against the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on May 17, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Relief pitcher Luke Jackson #58 of the Atlanta Braves looks like he could use some additional help. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Relief pitcher Luke Jackson #58 of the Atlanta Braves looks like he could use some additional help. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

With the starting rotation figuring itself out and the lineup lengthening thanks to Austin Riley, the bullpen figures to be the area where the Atlanta Braves will focus on upgrading in the coming weeks… but how?

It’s nearly June and – happily perhaps for the sake of the Atlanta Braves – there are already a handful of teams who have punted on the 2019 season.

The Orioles, Blue Jays, Royals, Tigers, Marlins and Giants are all at least eight games out of the second wild card and should be open for business very soon, if not already.

There are also several “bubble” teams that will be teetering on the brink of contention over the next month of the season.

While they might be just two or three games out of a playoff spot currently, it’s difficult to foresee them actually making the playoffs.

While there are still up to a dozen teams that are still within an ear’s shot of the second wild card spot, the four teams identified here are ones that will eventually fade.

Each of these teams has at least one reliever that will be appealing to not only the Braves, but any other contender as well.

While the Braves bullpen has stabilized to a certain degree recently, there is still a need for at least one reliever and one of those needs to be a lockdown closer.

Signing Craig Kimbrel after the draft is certainly a possibility, but multiple writers are still reporting Kimbrel’s asking price and years are too high for the Braves’ liking.

So who are these alternate potential trade partners?

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