Desperate Braves Urged To Target Struggling NL Hurler In Free Agency

The Atlanta Braves have a lot of talent on their roster, but injuries have stopped them from being a competitive team this year.

With their pitching staff in shambles, there’s a chance the Braves will look to free agency in the offseason to bolster their staff in an attempt to avoid being in the same situation a year from now.

FanSided’s Christopher Kline recently suggested the Braves could pursue Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen in free agency in the offseason.

“That said, Gallen is still in his prime (on paper) and durability has long been a forte. The Braves need spry arms with the ability to pitch deep into games and deep into seasons,” Kline wrote. “If Gallen can unearth his pre-slump form, suddenly the Braves have a bona fide third ace in the rotation behind Strider and Sale. It’s a tantalizing proposition.

“The hope would be that this down season keeps his price within range of Atlanta’s pocketbook. [Alex] Anthopoulos has never been the kind of GM to spend willy-nilly on free agent pitchers, but he made a competitive run at Aaron Nola last winter, so there’s at least some precedent for going into free agency with designs on adding an established arm.”

Gallen would be the ultimate buy-low option for the Braves to look at in the offseason. He’s struggled this year, in his walk year, but still has flashed his talent.

The best-case scenario would be the Braves signing him to a two or three-year deal and helping him return to his former self. If the Braves can do that, they’d have a steal with Gallen.

He’s not going to be as expensive to acquire as some of the other top arms on the market because of his down year this season. It’s the perfect time for the Braves to buy low and add some insurance to their rotation.

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