Braves bolster bullpen with All-Star closer Will Smith

The Atlanta Braves have bolstered their bullpen by signing Will Smith on a three-year, $39 million contract. Smith will join his former setup man, Mark Melancon in Atlanta. All of a sudden, the Braves have one of the deepest bullpen’s in the MLB that will be highlighted by Smith, Melancon, Shane Greene, Darren O’Day and Luke Jackson.

Smith was one of the hottest names on the trade market around the deadline this year, but the San Fransisco Giants refused to trade their closer. At the age of 29, Smith earned his first All-Star nomination this year with the Giants.

Smith’s career stats

• 410.2 ip
• 49 saves
• 26 wins
• 3.53 era
• 1.247 whip
• 115 era+
• 3.29 fip
• 494 k

Smith was the best closer in baseball this past season, leading all National League pitchers in Win Probability Added (5.6), which was an entire point better than Hyun-Jin Ryu (4.5), who finished with the second-best WPA for NL pitchers.

Smith’s 2019 stats

• 65.1 ip
• 34 saves
• 6 wins
• 0 losses
• 2.76 era
• 1.026 whip
• 152 era+
• 3.23 fip
• 96 k
• 29.2 k-bb%
• 88.7 lob%
• 42.0 gb%