Braves $58 Million Veteran Named Waiver Candidate Amid Nightmare Season

The Atlanta Braves will have a shot at redemption next season, but that doesn’t apply to every player on the roster.

In the midst of an abysmal season, the Braves have some veterans on expiring contracts who could feasibly be waived by the end of the month. These are the same players the Braves would have gladly traded at the July 31 deadline, but couldn’t find a decent prospect package to acquire.

One of these players is the Braves’ closer Raisel Iglesias, who is a highly intriguing potential pickup for a team with fleeting playoff hopes.

Iglesias, 35, was one of the best relievers in baseball last year, posting a 1.95 ERA and a minuscule 0.74 WHIP. He hasn’t been the same pitcher this season, but he’s currently working on a streak of seven straight scoreless outings, lowering his ERA to 4.34 entering play on Monday.

In a recent article, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller identified Iglesias as a candidate to be waived by the upcoming Aug. 31 deadline.

“If Saturday night was any indication … Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save — there are bound to be some teams who would be thrilled to pay what’s left of (his $16 million salary) to get (him) on the roster for the stretch run,” Miller wrote.

“Iglesias has a 1.90 ERA dating back to June 9, blowing just one save in 11 chances. He was a mess through his first 25 appearances of the season, but he has been borderline career-best good over the past two months.”

Iglesias originally signed a four-year, $58 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, and that deal has looked like both a bargain and an albatross at times. But the money is down to about $5 million at this point, and teams, especially big-market clubs, should be willing to add that sum to their payroll.

It’s a pretty simple decision from Atlanta’s perspective if saving money is any sort of objective at this point, which it might as well be, since the playoffs are off the table.

More MLB: Mets’ Edwin Díaz Makes Startling Admission After Allowing Walk-Off Home Run