Braves rumors: The (Possible) Return of Mike Minor
Braves rumors are in full effect. Is a reunion in the cards with former Braves lefty Mike Minor?
Watching the Atlanta Braves bullpen in 2017 was about as enjoyable as going to the dentist. With a buzz of Braves rumors this offseason, maybe the bullpen will be more of a walk in the park in 2018.
Jim Johnson, Luke Jackson, and a motley crew of otherwise subpar relievers compiled a collective 1.1 fWAR. This was good for 27th in MLB. Brian Snitker was never shy about summoning the bullpen earlier than he needed to, and adventure often followed.
Braves pitching after the 6th inning was often reminiscent of the Bad News Bears.
Granted, Snitker did not construct this pen himself, so the blame is not all on him. The front office didn’t do him any favors with the cobbled together collection of re-treads. New Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has a chance to set Snitker up for success, at least a little bit. One of the answers for 2018 could come in the form of an old friend.
Should the Braves call on Mike Minor for a reunion?
Minor, the Braves’ 2009 first-round pick, spent two years rebuilding strength in his surgically-repaired shoulder. Upon his return, his arsenal proved deadly out of the ‘pen, as he posted a 2.1 fWAR — second only to Andrew Miller among lefty relievers. He pitched his way to a career-high 10.2K/9 rate, and career lows in home run rate (.58 HR/9) and walk rate (2.55 BB/9). The 2.62 FIP indicates his 2.55 ERA was not a result of smoke and mirrors.
Some of Minor’s success is attributable to decreased reliance on his fastball (career-low 46.1%) and an uptick in slider usage (35.7%). His curve and change-up were still used at approximately career standard rates. Meanwhile, his fastball velocity, historically in the low 90’s, averaged 94.4 mph with KC. As he altered his approach, he altered his results.
He was subject to a $10MM mutual option with the Royals, which he declined to test the open market. Minor should cash in this season to the tune of approximately 4 years, $30M (projections = MLBTR and Jon Heyman).
More than anything, this makes me wish I was left-handed and knew how to throw a slider. Maybe I can find myself in the thick of these Braves rumors?
Braves Rumors: Is there a fit here for Atlanta? The Braves ‘pen is certainly due for a facelift.
As it stands currently, southpaws AJ Minter and Sam Freeman are both projected to open 2018 in the bullpen. Minter was dominant after an August call-up but has struggled with injuries since his time at Texas A&M. Even so, the Braves are depending on him for the long-term, so you can pencil him in. Freeman was a welcome surprise, but his 0.7 fWAR season was far and away the best of his career. There are no guarantees he will be able to recreate this season’s magic.
Jacob Lindgren, a savvy off-season pick-up in late 2016, is another Braves lefty who could find his way into the team’s 2018 bullpen plans. His road back, which appears to be progressing nicely, is dependent on his recovery from Tommy John Surgery.
This level of uncertainty could cause the new Braves front office to take a long look at Minor, who turns 30 next month.
As payroll increases for the Braves, an investment in dominant bullpen arm could be a necessity. Minor would further bolster the left-handed presence in the pen and provide valuable insurance.
In theory, a few roadblocks could exist. There could have been some bad will engendered by Minor during an arbitration hearing in 2015. His case was the first time the Braves had gone to trial with any player since 2001. Additionally, Minor could have a bad taste in his mouth from being non-tendered by the Braves in 2015, even with his injury.
Braves Rumors: Roadblocks
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Another roadblock could Minor’s role. By the end of 2017, Minor was closing for the Royals, a role he would likely not immediately step into in Atlanta. Arodys Vizcaino has the closer’s role on lockdown, with Minter as the apparent heir. Minor could opt to stick with higher-leverage opportunities from now on instead going back to a setup role.
There will be plenty of competition for Minor’s services. Then again, new Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos isn’t afraid to make a big splash.
As the Braves examine their offseason to-do list, improving the bullpen sits at the top of the list. Even with a wave of solid pitching prospects on the horizon, if the new Braves’ brass thinks Minor’s emergence as a shutdown reliever is legitimate and sustainable he could have a tomahawk across his chest for the foreseeable future.
Next: Braves 2017 Season Review and Offseason Preview
He may not be the solution to all of the Braves’ problems, but the team could do a lot worse than a reunion. Fans in Atlanta hope these Braves rumors are true or it could be another long season.