Easy Braves bullpen help may have just been gift-wrapped for Alex Anthopoulos

Alex Anthopoulos could look to add a free agent in Ryan Tepera to the Atlanta Braves’ bullpen.

With Ryan Tepera having cleared waivers after being released by the Los Angeles Angels, look for a smart general manager like Alex Anthopoulos of the Atlanta Braves to pounce at this potential opportunity.

Although the Atlanta bullpen is not quite to 2021 World Series championship-caliber levels, you can never have enough good relief pitchers. Given the fact that the Braves are having a hard time staying healthy, particularly in the starting rotation, it at least serves Anthopoulos to take a look. After all, he did trade for former Angels relievers like Raisel Iglesias and Jesse Chavez last season.

Here is the Angels’ announcement of Tepera hitting free agency after his unconditional release.

Would the Braves potentially look at adding Tepera, or will they move on and do what they do?

Ryan Tepera’s release is an opportunity for Alex Anthopoulos’ Atlanta Braves

One reason why the Braves have acquired a handful of former Angels pitchers recently is former Atlanta front office executive Perry Minasian is the man in charge of rebuilding this Los Angeles baseball franchise. He was part of the turnaround in Atlanta under Anthopoulos before getting the Angels gig. Minasian could be building the Angels similarly like Anthopoulos did with the Braves.

Even if the Angels moved on from Tepera, they are still hovering around .500 at this point of the season. It has been a painfully long time since they have fielded a championship-caliber team, despite having the two most talented players in all of baseball on their roster in Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. Of course, all it takes is for one clubhouse to jive and you could be going on a run, man.

As for the Braves, they have serious championship aspirations this year. They have a sixth straight NL East title to win, possibly avenge a premature postseason exit from last fall. Atlanta may have gotten off to a hot start, but the Braves are going to need to have arms they can trust down the stretch. Not to say Tepera is the answer, but it serves Anthopoulos to always be looking for arms.

Anthopoulos may love doing business with the Angels, but Tepera being a free agent is different.