Atlanta Braves Trade For Familiar Face in Solid Deadline Deal

The Atlanta Braves made a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays to bring a familiar face back to Atlanta. Jonny Venters will join a struggling Atlanta pen as he attempts to remain healthy.

Jonny Venters is back in Atlanta to a struggling Braves bullpen.  The Braves and Ray agreed to a trade sending the Rays international an bonus slot while Jonny Venters will be headed back to Atlanta as reported by MLB.com’s Mark Feisand.

The deal is a feel-good story for Atlanta. Jonny Venters was the dominant set-up man who helped the team give Craig Kimbrel so many save chances during his Braves tenure.

Venters had arm trouble and fell out of baseball relevance since 2012. His comeback with the Rays this season was a story many Braves fans couldn’t help but follow.

Now he will return to Atlanta and help to solidify the bullpen as the team attempts to make a postseason push.

Venters has pitched very few innings this season as he eases his way back into the swing of Major League action.

This move is likely one of multiple for Atlanta who is still dealing with a leaky bullpen and questions at the hot corner and in the starting rotation.

While Johan Camargo has been great recently the team could attempt to add a veteran like Adrian Beltre to help solidify the lineup.

Adding in a few veteran pieces like Venters should be enough to help the Braves play better baseball. Since June 1st they are hovering around .500 and struggled to look as explosive as they did early in the year.

Venters will hopefully help the team lock down the later innings when they do have the lead. He will likely receive some of the higher leverage situations Sam Freeman had been receiving.

Venters has a career 2.33 ERA and will be used sparingly in Atlanta as he continues to regain form.