Atlanta Braves 2016 Bullpen featuring Tommy John!
By Ryan Cothran
Will Jason Grill anchor the Atlanta Braves bullpen in 2016?
I think so. Grilli has filled the closer’s role admirably for our beloved Braves. While there were 2 separate stretches of inconsistency that Braves’ fans hadn’t been accustomed to seeing out of the closer’s role (it’s hard to fill the shoes of the best closer in baseball), Grilli has been outstanding only blowing 2 save opportunities the entire year, pitching to a 2.67 ERA and a near Kimbrel-esque 12K/9 innings. Considering the production, Grilli’s contract is a steal at 4.25 million this year, 3.5 million in 2016, and a club option for 3 million in 2017. Looking at Grilli’s contract alone isn’t wise though as there are several performance bonuses that come into effect (info collected from Cots Contracts):
- $0.1M each for 56, 60, 64 game appearances
- $0.5M each for 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 games finished.
- $1M for 60 game finished
Grilli currently sits at 29 games finished, 24 saves, and 35 game appearances. If he stays healthy, he’ll likely make an extra 2-2.5 million this year, still making his contract a bargain at >7MM. With the option for a 3rd year and the emphasis on veteran leadership in the Braves clubhouse, I’d be willing to bet that the Braves hold on to Grilli for at least part of the 2016 campaign.
With Grilli likely on board, who fills the other 6 roles? Glad you asked!
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