Atlanta Braves to sign Alexi Ogando

The Atlanta Braves have reportedly signed relief pitcher Alexi Ogando to a Minor League deal to help with the 2016 bullpen. Ogando last pitched in Boston.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a Minor League deal with veteran right-handed relief pitcher Alexi Ogando.

Alexi Ogando has been both a starter and a relief pitcher during his six-year Major League career. He was an All-Star in 2011 while with the Texas Rangers and spent 2015 with the Boston Red Sox. Ogando had a 3.99 ERA and a 1.332 WHIP in 65.1 innings while with Boston. He boasts a 3.44 ERA and a 1.205 WHIP over his six-year MLB career.

Bowman reports that Alexi Ogando will receive a Spring Training invite and should have some additional financial incentives should he make the Opening Day roster in 2016. Atlanta needs all the help they can get with regards to fixing their leaky bullpen. Perhaps it is the obvious need for help that pushed Ogando in the Atlanta Braves’ direction.

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Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella made it a priority to do whatever was necessary to fix the bullpen entering 2016. He has already signed or acquired via trade players like Jim Johnson, Jose Ramirez, and Jhoulys Chacin before signing Alexi Ogando Wednesday. For a team that supposedly has a nice, young crop of starting pitching talent, it makes sense for Coppolella to assemble a better bullpen that won’t blow nightly leads.

Since Ogando does have starting experience (48 career starts), he could serve as a long-arm in the bullpen and maybe a spot starter while with Atlanta. Ogando has not started a game in the big leagues since he was part of the 2013 Texas Rangers staff.

Ogando will be 32 years old during the 2016 MLB season and could prove a valuable trade asset for the club around the July 31st MLB Trade Deadline. He only has four career saves, so Alexi Ogando is likely coming to Atlanta with the strong possibility of aiding the club in the middle relief department.

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The more veteran arms the Atlanta Braves invite to Spring Training to compete for bullpen spots the better. The best way for the young staff to grow is to have two things: great game callers at catcher and a bullpen that can hold late inning leads. Coppolella has addressed both with the signing of catchers A.J. Pierzynski and Tyler Flowers, along with the half a dozen or so acquisitions to help bolster the bullpen.