Report: Atlanta Braves inquire about Texas Rangers reliever Neal Cotts

It is no secret that Frank Wren and the Atlanta Braves are in the market for bullpen help from the left side, and now, there is another name to link with that pursuit. Earlier in the process, the Braves were reported to be very interested in acquiring Boston Red Sox left-hander Andrew Miller, and in the latest rumblings, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports that Texas Rangers left-hander Neal Cotts could be in the mix.

The 34-year-old Cotts has pitched in 50 games for the Rangers this season, and in 46 innings, he has compiled a 3.52 ERA (3.05 FIP) with more than a strikeout per inning. He was previously mentioned in the report from Jon Heyman that surrounded Andrew Miller, but with another direct tie, it is perhaps time to take the pursuit more seriously.

Interestingly, Cotts is not a “lefty specialist”, and in fact, he has allowed better offensive numbers against lefties in his career than he has to batters from the right side of the plate. Still, another left-handed arm is sorely needed, and that fact is highlighted even more with the injury to hard-throwing right-hander Shae Simmons.

Stay tuned for the latest.