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Atlanta Braves Rumors: Relievers to target through August

By Benjamin Chase

14 Jul 1995: Pitcher Kent Mercker of the Atlanta Braves prepares to throw the ball during a game against the San Diego Padres. The Braves won the game 6-2.. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
14 Jul 1995: Pitcher Kent Mercker of the Atlanta Braves prepares to throw the ball during a game against the San Diego Padres. The Braves won the game 6-2.. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /
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Jim Johnson, Los Angeles Angels, 47 G, 48 1/3 IP, 3.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 16/35 BB/K – The Atlanta Braves employed Johnson just last season, and his 5.56 ERA was nothing to smile about in his last season as a Brave, but he’s shown to be very solid in a middle inning role for the Angels this season, and if the Braves were to use Johnson the way his stuff is used best, Braves rumors about Johnson would be a welcome thing.

Johnson is making $5M this year, so he’s not incredibly expensive, but he’d also likely pass through waivers, and he’s a free agent at season’s end, so there’s no obligation for 2019. Johnson’s incredible heavy fastball could be an asset for generating double plays in the middle innings if he was used in that way.

Cory Gearrin, Texas Rangers, 51 G, 46 1/3 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 17/41 BB/K – The sidearmer has already been moved this year from San Francisco to Texas for financial purposes, and he’s performed very well for Texas since the trade, which is why it’s surprising that he did not draw more interest before the July 31st deadline.

Gearrin keeps the ball in the zone, and his stuff is tough to square up, but he’s another guy who is not going to likely strike out the side at the end of an inning. He’s a good choice for a middle relief option, and with a salary of <$2M on the year, he could be a guy that is tough to get through waivers.

Luis Avilan, Chicago White Sox, 56 G, 37 1/3 IP, 3.62 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 14/42 BB/K – While Avilan is still a guy who can be hit if put into the wrong situation, the last two seasons, he’s shown to be very good at dominating especially lefty hitters. At $2.45M for this season, he could be tough to pass through waivers.

If he could get through waivers, Avilan has posted an OPS allowed to lefties nearly 250 points lower to lefties than to righties. If he were used as a LOOGY, he could be very, very valuable for the Atlanta Braves down the stretch.

David Hernandez, Cincinnati Reds, 41 G, 47 2/3 IP, 1.89 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 13/45 BB/K – Hernandez may not strike a memory in a Braves uniform, but he was signed in late spring training of 2017 by the Braves and showed very well in AAA, earning a trade to the Angels for cash before having a very solid year with the Angels and going to the Diamondbacks in a deadline deal last year.

The Reds went after Hernandez for a 2-year deal. Due to his age and a second year tacked on, Hernandez will likely clear waivers, and though he wouldn’t be a premium arm to get, he’d be a solid veteran who’s pitched in the postseason before.

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