The Atlanta Braves would be wise to be opportunistic this winter.
It’s not that the Braves have a bad roster by any means–on the contrary, their roster is one of the best in Major League Baseball at full strength. But they found out this season that things can fall apart fairly quickly if injuries mount, and the rest of the National League has never been better.
One place the Braves could sneakily look to upgrade is the bullpen, which was anchored by a dominant closer in Raisel Iglesias this season, but was only 40 of 62 in total save opportunities. Acquiring another elite back-end reliever could make the Braves much more efficient in close games next season.
Two closers known to be available in trades this winter are Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals and Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers. Either could be a massive addition for any contender, and the Braves would be well-served to at least consider joining the bidding war.
Dayn Perry of CBS Sports believes Williams, who has had more dominant seasons than Helsley so far in their respective careers, is the better fit for Atlanta.
“If you want swing and miss in high-leverage spots and someone to provide an alternative to Raisel Iglesias when it comes to save opportunities, then Helsley and Williams are made to order,” Perry said.
“Such matters are fluid and uncertain, of course, but right now Williams seems like a stronger bet to be moved before the season starts.”
At 30, Williams is one of the most dominant relievers in the game, and he’s at the peak of his powers. His 1.83 career ERA speaks volumes, and he somehow lowered it after returning from injury this season, putting up a 1.25 mark in 22 appearances.
Williams is also relatively cheap for a top closer, as Spotrac currently estimates him to be worth $8.4 million in his final year of arbitration.
The Braves are also masters of extending their players after acquiring them (see: Sale, Chris), so Williams could be a long-term addition if they see him continuing his dominance years into the future.
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