Braves could reunite with former 2021 World Series champion let go by Cubs

The Atlanta Braves are hoping once again to bring home a title in 2024. Every opportunity to improve the postseason roster is worth exploring.

Though the Braves have cycled through an astonishing number of position players amid injuries in 2024, not as much has been made of the pitching staff. Resurgent veterans like Chris Sale and Reynaldo López look to anchor the playoff rotation, but the bullpen depth chart is more unclear.

With stalwart lefty reliever A.J. Minter officially lost for the season, there is more than enough room for the Braves to add one more southpaw to their bullpen for the playoff push. And surprisingly enough, an old friend recently became available on waivers.

The Chicago Cubs placed 35-year-old lefty Drew Smyly on waivers late on Monday, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Though he is allowed to continue playing for Chicago, Smyly is now eligible to be claimed by any postseason contenders looking to add some lefty relief help.

Smyly was a member of the 2021 World Series champion Braves club, compiling an 11-4 record with a 4.48 ERA as a starting pitcher during the regular season. He was used three times out of the bullpen that postseason, scattering five earned runs across 7 1/3 innings pitched.

Though Smyly had one of his least productive MLB seasons in 2021 with Atlanta, he was used largely in a starting role that season. Throughout his career, and especially the past two years, Smyly has proven far more effective as a reliever, which he has been all year in Chicago.

Smyly owns a 3.08 ERA and .672 opposing OPS in 140 career games as a reliever, compared to a 4.38 ERA and .768 opposing OPS in 179 career starts. In 39 games in 2024, all out of the bullpen, Smyly has a 2.38 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP.

Smyly's contract contains a $2.5 million buyout for 2025, in addition to the roughly $1.9 million remaining in 2024. It would amount to just under $4.5 million for the Braves to claim his services for the remainder of the year.

Smyly would also have to be added to the active roster for any team by Saturday to be eligible for postseason play. The clock is ticking.

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