Atlanta Braves: What does the bullpen look like next season

Who’s back

I’ll admit that when the Atlanta Braves traded for Mark Melancon I was shocked to see there was no money coming from the San Francisco Giants in that deal.

The Braves are now on the hook for $14 million next year. But if Melancon keeps pitching the way he has and remains the team’s closer, it won’t be such a bad deal.

Shane Greene will be in his last season of arbitration in 2020 so he’ll most certainly be back and be a big part of the bullpen next season.

It will be interesting to see what the Atlanta Braves decide to do with Sean Newcomb. He has been very valuable out of the bullpen this year, but you hate to give up on a guy with that much talent as a starter.

My guess is they give Newcomb another chance in Spring Training to try to win a starting job, but if that doesn’t work out they’ll put him back in the bullpen.

Luke Jackson is under team control next season and could be back in the bullpen. He’s had his moments, both very good and very bad, for the Atlanta Braves in 2019.

And then there are a handful of guys who will be back next year but a spot in the bullpen isn’t guaranteed.

That list of players includes A.J. Minter, Jeremy Walker, Grant Dayton, Jacob Webb, Chad Sobotka, and probably a few others that I’m forgetting.

At this point, there are really only four guys coming back who are almost a lock to be in the bullpen next year.