Parting ways with former Atlanta Braves setup option and World Series champion A.J. Minter was understandable, but one of the more upsetting decisions the Braves have made in recent years. Losing the steadying presence of the reliever could be argued as a mistake, one Braves fans have had little reason to question this year, with it long in the rearview and Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee, and Didier Fuentes handing manager Walt Weiss an elite array of options.
With that said, it is time for the Braves to consider a reunion with the current New York Met. Minter is on an expiring deal that New York has every reason to want to offload in what is a lost season. For the Braves, it makes sense to take what is the strongest point on the roster and build upon it.
Looking at the current concerns in the team's rotation, the easy path to making a deep postseason run is building a bullpen that can dominate. Already, the Braves have a great base for this to happen, with Minter offering even more depth and proven experience.
It simply makes far too much sense for both sides not to explore in the coming weeks of the season. Minter has dealt with injury concerns, but when healthy has been lights out, completing 14.0 innings without giving up a single earned run.
Braves Should Aggressively Explore A.J. Minter Reunion
Atlanta bringing back Minter would be a fun story to help offset the recent team struggles and turn the page. Minter had his best career seasons with the Braves and appears to have again unlocked this version of himself. Watching his innings with the Mets, the velocity is there, and the elite movement that always was a sign Minter was going to be close to untouchable.
It simply is a question of whether or not the Braves are willing to spend on a position that already has depth. This could be viewed as a luxury, with the front office opting to focus its attention on adding to the rotation and bolstering the middle of the lineup.
While this is understandable, the team should at least reach out and see what the Mets would ask for in a potential National League East trade. It is far from the first time the two rivals have dealt within the division, with every reason to believe it is again plausible based on Minter's history in Atlanta and the Mets' clear lack of postseason hope.
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