As the Winter Meetings heat up, many rumors and names will be flying around as teams show interest in them. The Atlanta Braves will be busy in San Diego as they look for key components for their 2015 roster. The latest rumor is that the Braves could be interested in relief pitcher Jason Grilli.
Reported by Bob Nightengale of the USA Today is that the Braves have told Grilli they are interested in him.
The Atlanta #Braves have informed free agent reliever Jason Grilli know they have interest in him
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 9, 2014
The 38-year-old is coming off a season where he was traded from the Pittsburg Pirates to the LA Angles on July 27th. Through his 12 year MLB career he has played for seven teams and debuted with the Florida Marlins in 2000. Grilli was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 1st round (4th overall) in the 1997 MLB draft.
2013 was by far his best season of his career as he made the National League All-Star team and had a season where he totaled 33 saves, a 2.70 ERA with a 0.8 WAR. His fastball velocity has pretty much remained steady in past three seasons sitting at the 93 MPH.
Grilli has a strange delivery – maybe the Braves would like to fill that role since they traded Jordan Walden already this offseason.
Now, Grilli and his agent will have to figure out if they still believe he can be a closer in the MLB or should be revert to a reliever role.
We’ll see if this rumor takes off or if the Braves just checked in with his folks.