MLB Rumors: Gavin Floyd will remain in the Atlanta Braves rotation

There will be an odd man out in the Atlanta Braves rotation. That may or may not spell the eventual end of Aaron Harang‘s feel-good stint with the Braves this season.

At issue here is the return of Gavin Floyd to the mix. Pitching for the first time in over a year on Tuesday night, Floyd delivered seven strong innings. With that the Braves know that they plan to keep Floyd in the rotation and that it will cost somebody else their spot. Fredi Gonzalez had the following to say about the situation (from the Atlanta Journal Constitution):

"I don’t want to go six-man rotation. I don’t think it works. I don’t think it’s good. But (Floyd) is one guy that would not go to the bullpen, I don’t think, just because of the Tommy John. We all know how the bullpen thing is. You get up. You get down. You go in. You got to warm up in 15 (pitches), and I don’t want to do that to him.”"

From the sounds of things it is partially merit-based and partially in the interest of caution that the Braves will keep Floyd in the rotation; it has to with effectiveness and with his injury history.

As for candidates to get booted, Harang is officially on notice after his recent struggles. Alex Wood and his funky delivery is likely the best candidate to move to the bullpen to make room for Floyd. The Braves will seek whichever route they believe is best to keep getting by as they build a rotation on the go.