Fansided

4 relievers Braves need to trade for with Aroldis Chapman off the board

By Cody Williams

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 02: Aroldis Chapman #45 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field on July 02, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 02: Aroldis Chapman #45 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field on July 02, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves trade targets, Braves Rumors, Daniel Bard, Colorado Rockies
Daniel Bard, Colorado Rockies. (Photo by Rachel O’Driscoll/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) /

3. Daniel Bard would give the Braves bullpen another elite back-end option

Much like last season, we don’t know if the Colorado Rockies are going to be sellers at the trade deadline, only that they should be selling.

If the front office indeed wisens up at the helm of a club that is currently 20 games below .500, then the Braves need to come calling about what it would take for the Rocks to part with veteran reliever Daniel Bard.

The former Red Sox reliever has been a stalwart for Colorado, even on a bad team. In 27 appearances this season, Bard has posted a 1.91 ERA and 1.45 WHIP, which is remarkable for a pitcher playing his home games at the hitter-friendly Coors Field. Of course, Fangraphs does have some cold water to pour on that with his xERA at 5.63 and FIP at 5.23. But again, that is somewhat tied to the ballpark and a bit of luck on top of that.

Even still, the 38-year-old Bard is now in the midst of a 1.5-season run where he’s been truly dominant with the actual results he’s put forth after posting a 1.79 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 57 appearances with the Rockies a season ago. More importantly, he’ll be a free agent after the 2024 season, so Colorado should be motivated to move him as they have more use for future assets rather than a win-now type of reliever.

The Braves need that win-now piece, though. Adding Bard to Raisel Iglesias and AJ Minter at the back end of the bullpen would be huge for giving Brian Snitker flexibility at the end of the games and more quality options overall. The cost should be somewhat modest, which means that Atlanta needs to be on the phone with the Rocky Mountains immediately.

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