Atlanta Braves: Should Target Shutdown Closer Ken Giles

The Atlanta Braves should attempt to trade for shutdown closer Ken Giles. Giles is in the middle of a great season for the Toronto Bluejays and would fit what Atlanta needs.

The Atlanta Braves are in need of a starter and a late-inning arm. They can find the latter in Ken Giles, Giles has 14-saves and a 1.64 ERA so far this season. Giles is a much better late-inning option than Luke Jackson.

Jackson has been an impressive story for the Braves this season but the fact remains he is far from a shutdown closer that the Braves need.

Giles completely changes the look of the Braves bullpen. He allows every late-inning arm to shift back an inning giving the Braves a postseason worthy bullpen.

If Atlanta opts not to add a bullpen arm they are leaving themselves very vulnerable come postseason time.

The current alignment of the Braves pen leaves nothing but questions for the team heading into the postseason. The team lacks a shutdown setup man or closer who they can count on when the pressure is at its highest.

Adding Giles would completely change this allowing Jackson to pitch the 8th inning and letting the Braves mix and match the remaining innings.

If the Braves opt to go all-in adding Giles should be only the first move for a team who could use another starter and a setup man.

Ken Giles has 105-career saves and would provide a veteran for a relatively young Atlanta Braves bullpen.

Atlanta will likely make more than one move before the trade deadline considering the excitement around this team and the fan support.  Atlanta is finally nearing returning to postseason relevance with a chance to win a postseason series for the first time in nearly two decades. More to come as the deadline nears.