The Atlanta Braves surprised a lot of folks last offseason when they signed Reynaldo Lopez to a three-year, $30 million contract. He was expected to be a great long relief option for the Atlanta bullpen. However, they dropped the bomb that Lopez would be stretched out to be a starter in 2024 after the fact which certainly raised a lot of eyebrows.
This was surprising because Reynaldo hadn't been a starting pitcher for a full season since 2019 with the White Sox. For whatever reason, the Braves saw potential in Lopez and he proved them right in a MASSIVE way.
Lopez provided Atlanta with one of the best seasons of his career. He went 8-5 with a 1.99 ERA over 135.2 innings. Reynaldo struck out 148 while walking 42 and this performance even earned him one NL Cy Young vote.
This success could have the Braves try and repeat this process with a couple of relievers who are being considered for starting roles in 2025.
Braves could try Reynaldo Lopez method on pair of free agent relievers to fill need for starting pitching
It has become a trend in Major League Baseball to convert relievers into starters. There's good reason behind it as teams have seen successful transitions from Seth Lugo, Jordan Hicks, Reynaldo Lopez, Garrett Crochet, and more.
It seems teams are considering this for a couple of free agent relievers this offseason. Former Yankee closer Clay Holmes is being looked at as a potential starter for many teams. He last started in 2018 when he was in the Pirates organization.
Holmes has a career 3.52 ERA as a high-leverage reliever and is a two-time All-Star. Teams are interested in seeing him as starter thanks to his pitch mix of a sinker, slider, and sweeper. Holmes has also appeared in at least 60 innings during each of the last four seasons but never more than 70. This could mean this plan doesn't work at all but worst case scenario, teams end up with a dependable reliever.
Former Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman has received interest in this role as well. He's become one of the most dominant relievers in baseball after a great performance from 2023-2024 with a 2.28 ERA over 118.2 innings and a 33.4% strikeout rate. 2024 was impressive for him with a 2.17 ERA over 66.1 innings with 16 BB and 89 K.
Jeff Hoffman, K'ing the Side. pic.twitter.com/OELKPs1LyC
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 28, 2024
The former top draft pick was a starter for East Carolina and began his professional career in the role. His last experience starting was in 2021 with the Reds until they moved him to a full-time reliever.
Hoffman's four pitch mix also helps his case for a possible starting role. He utilizes a four-seamer, slider, splitter, and sinker. The 32 year old has appeared in 361 professional games with 145 of them being starts.
Hoffman has a better case for starting than Holmes does so if the Braves were to really consider doing this, he'd be my choice. Regardless of what happens, both pitchers at least provide Atlanta with a chance to have great backend bullpen options with the potential of the same success as Reynaldo Lopez in 2024.