The Atlanta Braves experienced an intriguing offseason, making only a few significant moves to reshape their roster. One of their most notable acquisitions was signing outfielder Jurickson Profar to a three-year contract, addressing one of their key roster vacancies. However, beyond this signing, the Braves largely remained inactive in free agency, opting to rely on their existing core rather than aggressively pursuing additional talent.
One of the few personnel decisions made by General Manager Alex Anthopoulos that had the potential to impact the team’s Major League roster was the selection of right-handed pitcher Anderson Pilar in the Rule-5 Draft from the Miami Marlins. Pilar had compiled a commendable 2.86 ERA across eight seasons in the Minor Leagues. Despite this, his experience at the Triple-A level was minimal, with only eight appearances and a total of 15 innings pitched at that level prior to being picked up by Atlanta.
The decision to select Pilar in the Rule-5 Draft was somewhat surprising given his limited upper-minor-league experience. Under Rule-5 Draft regulations, for Pilar to remain in the Braves organization, he would need to stay on Atlanta’s 26-man Major League roster or be placed on the injured list for the entire 2025 season. Otherwise, the team would have no choice but to return him to the Marlins.
Pilar struggled considerably during spring training while attempting to prove he deserved a spot on the Opening Day roster. Over just 5.2 innings, he surrendered nine earned runs on 10 hits, issuing six walks in the process. While spring training performance is often inconsequential for established veterans, for a fringe player like Pilar, it was a crucial opportunity to make a strong impression. Unfortunately, his struggles on the mound made it an easy decision for the Braves to return him to Miami, effectively ending his brief stint with the organization before the regular season even began.
Heading into spring training, Pilar had a legitimate chance to secure a bullpen role due to his Rule-5 status. However, his lackluster performance has left that spot vacant. One potential candidate to fill the role is veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, whom the Braves recently signed. Given Pilar’s departure, Kimbrel now has an increased likelihood of making a return to Atlanta’s Major League bullpen sooner rather than later.
Kimbrel is one of the most dominant relievers in Braves franchise history. During his initial tenure with the team, he recorded a remarkable 1.43 ERA over 294 appearances, amassing a franchise record 189 saves. Though he is unlikely to add significantly to that save total with Raisel Iglesias serving as the team’s closer, Kimbrel’s recent Minor League contract with the Braves presents him with an opportunity to contribute to Atlanta once again.
One key question surrounding Kimbrel’s return is how soon he can be expected to make an impact at the Major League level, if at all. While that remains uncertain, the removal of Pilar from the bullpen picture creates an opening that Kimbrel could potentially fill early in the season, provided he performs well in Triple-A.
The 36-year-old Alabama native had a challenging 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles, ultimately resulting in his designation for assignment and subsequent release after 57 appearances. However, some of his underlying metrics suggest he was somewhat unlucky. Despite finishing the season with a 5.33 ERA, his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) stood at 4.18, and his expected ERA (xERA) was 4.31. Additionally, he demonstrated that he still possesses swing-and-miss stuff by striking out 73 batters over 52.1 innings.
If Kimbrel can regain some of his past form, especially in lower-leverage situations, he could be a valuable asset for the Braves’ bullpen. His familiarity with the organization, coupled with his extensive experience, may allow him to thrive in a role that does not require him to be the team’s primary closer.
The Braves’ bullpen situation remains an area of concern, particularly after losing key relievers such as A.J. Minter, Jesse Chavez, and Luke Jackson to free agency. Additionally, Joe Jimenez is sidelined due to injury, further depleting the team’s relief corps. Given these losses, a resurgent Kimbrel could prove to be an invaluable addition to Atlanta’s pitching staff in the upcoming season.
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