Saves or longevity into your 40s? That’s the tough question the Atlanta Braves are facing as they look to finalize their bullpen. Atlanta has been busy lately, adding several familiar names on Minor League deals. They’ve brought in James McCann to handle catching duties, Alex Verdugo for outfield depth, and Craig Kimbrel as a potential late-inning option out of the bullpen. But are they finished making moves?
With the Texas Rangers recently releasing veteran relievers Jesse Chavez and Hunter Strickland, there’s a good chance the Braves aren’t done yet. Chavez, in particular, has been around the majors longer than most. He’s the Johnny Cash of baseball—he’s been everywhere. Yet, he always seems to find his way back to Atlanta.
Despite his efforts to latch on with other teams during spring training in recent years, Chavez consistently ends up back in a Braves uniform. Considering his connection to the city and the fanbase, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him return once more. That said, if it comes down to a choice, Kimbrel seems like the better bet at this stage of their careers.
After all, Kimbrel is a future Hall of Famer and hasn’t pitched for Atlanta in nearly a decade.
Craig Kimbrel could battle Jesse Chavez for Atlanta Braves bullpen spot
Kimbrel has been in the majors since 2010. After starting his career with Atlanta, he spent his first four seasons with the Braves, earning NL All-Star honors each year from 2011 to 2014. During his time there, he set the franchise record for saves and won NL Rookie of the Year in 2011, beating out fellow future Hall of Famer Freddie Freeman.
Since his departure, Atlanta went through tough times before rebounding to win its first World Series since 1995 in 2021. Meanwhile, Kimbrel has made five more All-Star appearances and was part of the Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series in 2018. He currently has 440 saves to his name and is still under 40. That said, the Braves’ fondness for Jesse Chavez remains unmatched in my eyes.
Honestly, I’m not convinced either pitcher has much left in the tank. If they did, why would they still be on the market this deep into spring training? One advantage Chavez has over Kimbrel is his versatility—he can pitch multiple innings in relief and even start games if needed. Kimbrel, on the other hand, is a pure closer, and the Braves already have Raisel Iglesias in that role. Still, I’d love to see both of them on the team.
At the moment, Kimbrel is closer to rejoining the Braves than Chavez, simply because he’s already part of the organization.
