Atlanta Braves signing of Chris Martin pushes bullpen to elite levels

In a week that’s already seen the Atlanta Braves go out and the land the big fish in former San Francisco Giants closer Will Smith, Alex Anthopoulos pulled the trigger again to bolster the bullpen by bringing back a familiar face in Chris Martin.

The Atlanta Braves originally acquired Chris Martin at the trade deadline this past season for prospect Kolby Allard.

Chris Martin signed a 2 yr/14 million dollar contract to stay with the Atlanta Braves. Martin’s numbers last season don’t look to be top tier, but his advanced statistics tell us something different.

Though the righty pitched to a 4.60 ERA with the Bravos, his rather stingy 1.63 FIP tells a different story.

Also, as stated in the Atlanta Braves press release, Martin didn’t do what many other Atlanta Braves relievers did last season- walk batters.

That stat alone tells the story, Martin didn’t hurt himself, and he often didn’t hurt the ball club he pitched for, whether it was the Texas Rangers or the Atlanta Braves.

In 58 games between the two clubs, he complied a 3.40 ERA with 65 strikeouts and just five walks.

He led all qualifying relievers in his BB/9 ration, outperforming second place Yusmeiro Petit by a wide margin – 0.81 to 1.08.

The Atlanta Braves bullpen is now among the elite

Now, the Atlanta Braves bullpen stands as perhaps one of the best in the league on paper.

Will Smith and Chris Martin’s additions bolstered a unit that includes Shane Greene, Mark Melancon, Darren O’Day, Luke Jackson, and (maybe) Sean Newcomb along with a bevy of other bounce back possibilities like Touki Toussaint, A.J. Minter, and Chad Sobotka.

Think of a bullpen that we can roll out in the 6th inning that features three guys with major closing experience and a fourth, Martin, that has closer/set-up man caliber stuff.

That also takes less pressure off the starters, especially if Bryse Wilson, Kyle Wright, or Ian Anderson get extended time in the big leagues next year — it’s simply a luxury.

Martin figures to be a lock to make the bullpen, as his health shouldn’t be a concern after having to exit Game 1 of the NLDS to an oblique injury.

The game, at the time, was led by the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in the top of the eighth but was eventually lost 7-6 after a wild finish to the St. Louis Cardinals.

A healthy Martin is an excellent pick-up for the Braves and the bullpen is chock full of arms very early in the offseason. But what’s the next move?

Only time will tell with rumors about Marcell Ozuna and Josh Donaldson flying around. Though you’d have to figure, upgrades to the bullpen might be largely finished ahead of the 2020 season.