The Braves can’t bank on another Tyler Matzek-style ascension, but a good story or two would do wonders for the bullpen.
After boasting an excellent reliever group in 2020, the Braves enter this season with a little more uncertainty surrounding their bullpen. Accomplished veterans Mark Melancon (Padres), Darren O’Day (Yankees) and Shane Greene (unsigned) left via free agency, putting a dent in what arguably was the deepest reliever ensemble in the majors.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos, discussing the bullpen during an interview Friday with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, acknowledged it will be difficult to replace that trio.
“Melancon, O’Day, Greene, what they’ve done in their careers - you start to look now at the seasons they had,” Anthopoulos said.