The Braves addressed their bullpen Sunday, acquiring right-hander Brad Brach from the Orioles for an international signing slot.
It's the Braves' second addition to the bullpen this weekend after they added Jonny Venters from the Rays for another international signing slot.
Like Venters, Brach was acquired for the minimum value, $250,000. The Braves are limited to $300,000 per player due to restrictions in the international market.
Brach, 32, owns a 4.85 ERA, partially a product of bad luck and well above his career 3.16 mark.
The Braves are buying low hoping Brach recovers from a poor season with baseball's worst team. Brach owns a 10.80 ERA in July, allowing 10 earned runs in 6-2/3 innings. Opponents have hit .408 against him in that span.
But the reward certainly outweighs the risk. From 2012-17, Brach posted a 2.96 ERA with 411 strikeouts against 166 walks in 386-1/3 innings (346 appearances). He limited right-handers to a .200 average over that time and left-handers to a .232 mark.
Brach resides in Nashville, and there was some previous thought the Braves would be his preferred destination. He, like most veteran Orioles, has been caught in trade winds for the past year.
The Braves are reworking their struggling bullpen prior to Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline. The team is also believed to be seeking a controllable starter and bench help.
Brach is a free agent after the season.
