Braves' new pitching coach could give team inside track for top free agent reliever

Atlanta Braves' fans are hopeful the core players returning for the team will benefit from the familiarity with Walt Weiss. However, the staff around Weiss underwent what can best be described as a massive overhaul over this past week. One of the most exciting hires Alex Anthopoulos made for the Braves' dugout was the addition of pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.

At 39 years-old, Hefner earned a glowing reputation thanks to his great work with the Mets pitching staff over the past six seasons in Queens. Braves country is on pins and needles as they await to see what magic Hefner can do with Atlanta's pitching staff.

However, after Anthopoulos declined options on both Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley, it's unclear what arms Hefner will have to work with in the bullpen. While declining the options felt cheap, perhaps Anthopoulos is clearing money to make a run at a reliever that flourished under Hefner last year.

Braves could use Jeremy Hefner as recruitment pitch to pursue Edwin Diaz in free agency

Edwin Diaz is one of the premier free agents on the market this winter, and the Braves clearly have multiple holes in the bullpen. Additionally, filling the closer role has to be a high priority for Anthopoulos this offseason. Signing Edwin Diaz would be a swing for the fences, but Atlanta could offer a very intriguing sales pitch to Diaz thanks to the acquisition of Hefner. Every team in baseball wants to add to the bullpen, but the Braves feel like one of the better landing spots for Diaz this winter.

At the end of the day money talks, and Diaz will command a pretty penny. However, if Atlanta's deal is similar to other top offers for Diaz, having Hefner could be a pivotal tiebreaker. Diaz has been a dominant closer his entire career, but questions started popping up about how good he could be post major knee surgery. Diaz put any of those questions to bed when he went out and posted a 1.63 ERA and 2.28 FIP last season under Hefner's tutelage. Diaz's excellent swing and miss arsenal makes him everything you want in a late-inning arm for postseason baseball.

It's unclear just how much money Anthopoulos will have to operate with this offseason (despite McGuirk's hopeful comments), and signing Diaz would tie up a lot of money for one piece of a bullpen that needs retooling. Obstacles are clearly in the way in both money, and competing suitors, but Diaz could be a player that proves worth it. Additionally, it never hurts to take away talent from the Mets, whether that is a player or a coach.