The Atlanta Braves have done an impressive job getting the most out of veteran southpaw Martin Perez in the 2026 season. The aging starter clearly doesn't have the stuff to get deep into starts but relies on his ability to place his pitches and create weak contact. This is a skill set that has waned over the last month, with Monday's start against the Mets being the latest example of this trend. Perez gave up eight hits and three earned runs over 5.0 innings of work, making it clear that he isn't living up to his early-season performance.
Perez moving to the bullpen as the long relief option is the best case scenario for the Braves. One that the team should be exploring as we move closer to the 2026 trade deadline. It makes a great deal of sense to put Perez in a role that allows the lefty to best utilize his current talent level without being exposed by attempting to work deep into starts.
The southpaw has an impressive ability out of the bullpen as a change of pace option and could be sparingly used as a middle innings option as well. No question, the Braves would be far better off moving Perez into the bullpen and adding a more reliable option to the middle of the rotation.
Braves Should Consider Moving Martin Perez to Bullpen Amid Recent Regression
Perez has been a surprise contributor and deserves a high level of credit for what he has accomplished over the last three months. With that said, there is no defense for the inability to consistently get deep into games. This is due to the fact that his declining velocity has left the starter in a tough position the more the lineup turns over. While this is true for many pitchers, it is undeniably a problem for Perez and can be avoided by a move to the bullpen.
This brings us to the current Atlanta front office and the fact that a move must be made to add a needed arm. Even if the Braves add one of the lesser targets on the market, the franchise clearly needs someone capable of consistently offering 5-6 innings.
For Perez, the veteran has earned a place on this team; his early-season heroics cannot be understated. Still, the left hander would be better suited at this stage of his career for a lesser role out of a bullpen that clearly uses the boost.
Add us as a preferred source on Google