Braves: 3 former fan favorites available at the trade deadline

3) Former Braves fan favorite available at the trade deadline: Chris Martin

Light will probably not guide Chris Martin home to the Braves this year. He’s not a major fit for what they could use but someone should definitely take a chance on this right-handed veteran currently putting up average numbers with the Chicago Cubs.

Martin spent two and a half years in Atlanta where he was 4-6 with a 3.30 ERA. He’s at 1-0 with a 4.34 ERA in 29 innings with the Cubs this year. Fortunately, with 10.9 strikeouts per nine and an even more amazing 1.2 walks per nine, the 2.90 FIP he boasts could just mean he has been the victim of some bad luck.

Martin is the absolute definition of a late-bloomer. Already 36, he didn’t make his big league debut until 2014 after getting drafted in 2005. Limited appearances in 2014 and ’15 looked like it could be the end for him. However, he made his way onto the Texas Rangers in ’18 and has been in the big leagues since.

On a contender, we could expect Martin to play the role of a credible mop-up man or maybe someone to get them through the fifth or sixth in a game they still want to win. He’s a lot better than many relievers out there. Teams looking to bolster their bullpens could really benefit from adding this former Braves reliever. You can’t put a price on someone who has done it before. Very available, look for the Cubs to shop him like the speed of sound.