The bullpen may not be the primary need the Atlanta Braves need to address at the trade deadline. But can a team ever have too many dominant relievers?
In 2021, the Braves won their first World Series in a quarter-century thanks in part to an electric group of relief pitchers. This season, there's plenty of talent in the 'pen once again, but perhaps one more addition could push Atlanta over the top.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be bottoming out. At 41-50, Toronto is watching their playoff odds shrink by the minute, and that means a deadline sale is likely coming.
According to MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand, the Jays aren't likely to trade players under contract for 2025, namely, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. But rental players should be available, and relief pitcher Trevor Richards will be an intriguing arm for contending teams to pursue.
"The consensus among a dozen executives we spoke with is that the Blue Jays will attempt to move most or all of their rental players if they sell, working to add some prospects," Feinsand said.
Richards, 31, has been the only healthy and reliable Blue Jays reliever for the duration of the season. He has a respectable 3.40 ERA and an excellent 0.92 WHIP, working mainly in an eighth-inning role for Toronto.
Atlanta, meanwhile, could use one more high-leverage righty to bridge the gap to closer Raisel Iglesias.
The talent pool currently consists of Jesse Chavez, Joe Jiménez, and Pierce Johnson, all of whom are having excellent seasons. Yet Richards still carries the lowest WHIP of the group and throws a change-up that is unlike any pitch the Braves' relievers currently possess.
But Richards' best feature of all? He mows down left-handed batters, thanks to that devastating change. Lefties have a .482 OPS against Richards this season, compared to .583 for righties.
Clearly, the Braves need to pull out all the stops to beat the Philadelphia Phillies this season. And a bullpen arm who could navigate through Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper at the top of the order might be the missing piece Atlanta needs.
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