Braves: Shane Greene update proves time is now to sign him

With Shane Greene’s asking price reportedly deemed too high, this could be the perfect chance for the Atlanta Braves to sign him.

Nearly everyone except PECOTA predicted that the Atlanta Braves would contend for a postseason berth in 2021 prior to the start of the season. After Opening Weekend, the Braves currently sit at 0-3 following a series sweep against the rival Philadelphia Phillies. While Atlanta’s bats have been quiet thus far, the team is in a position where they need to load up on talent across the roster, and that includes the bullpen. On Sunday, they received some news regarding a former reliever of theirs that could work in their favor at the negotiation table.

According to former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, Shane Greene does have some interested teams, but he remains unsigned due to his high asking price. Bowden continues by saying that Greene’s velocity has decreased and that analytics departments don’t value him that highly.

Braves: Could a drop in asking price lead to an Atlanta reunion for Shane Greene?

In the past two seasons, Greene has put up respectable numbers in terms of ERA and WHIP. The issue is, as Bowden points out, that his fielding independent pitching numbers (FIP) are a run higher than his ERA. In 2019, Greene posted a 3.79 FIP and a 2.30 ERA, while recording a 3.81 FIP and a 2.60 ERA in 2020.

With offers not meeting Greene’s demands, this could be the perfect time for the Braves to step in to finalize a deal. Atlanta’s bullpen has not been an issue three games in, but will it continue to perform at this level for the remainder of the season? Who knows. This is a team that was one victory removed from reaching the World Series last season. They are in a position to add as much big-name talent as possible to ensure they accomplish that goal.

With his market dwindling, it will remain to be seen how long it will take Greene to sign on with a team. With this update, we certainly can not rule out a return to the Braves.