Could Alex Wood be an option for Braves?

Braves may need a second new starter to compliment top-of-the-rotation ace

The Braves need a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. They need Madison Bumgarner. Or Zack Wheeler. But they may also need more than that.

They’ll likely have a new starter to lead the young trio of Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz. Then the plan now is to have lefty Sean Newcomb compete for a spot once again in the rotation.

But more will be needed. It’s unlikely the Braves would spend twice on big-named pitchers, like say Bumgarner and Wheeler. Perhaps they could simply compliment one of those two with a second or third-tier free agent pitcher.

What about former Braves starter Alex Wood? He’s a free agent after a wasted season in Cincinnati. Wood had back issues in spring training and they never really cleared up. He made just seven starts with the Reds, with a 5.80 ERA, 41 hits allowed in 35.2 innings, nine walks and 30 strikeouts.

Those aren’t exactly the numbers Wood had when he was in Atlanta, when he was 21-20 with a 3.10 ERA in 86 games (55 starts). Wood then went on to the Dodgers in the awful Hector Olivera trade and became an All-Star.

In his 86 games with the Dodgers (74 starts), Wood had an ERA of 3.46 in 434.2 innings. He made the All-Star Game in 2017 when he went 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA, with 151 strikeouts in 152.1 innings pitched.

So, is Wood healthy? That’s the first question that must be asked and answered. The Braves can’t afford to bring in a pitcher who would be hurt. And, what would Wood command for a contract? He really needs to prove himself, so would a one-year, $3 million deal be fair?

If the Braves spend more than $10 million on a more prominent starting pitcher, they may want to ink a pitcher like Wood to a smaller deal to bring them in to compete with Newcomb. If healthy, Wood may be the perfect fit.

And remember, when Wood was in Los Angeles, his assistant general manager at the time was Alex Anthopoulos, who now runs the Braves. If he was impressed with what he saw in 2016 and 2017 when he was in the Dodgers’ front office, Wood might be on his radar.

Listen to The Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 p.m. ET on Middle Georgia’s ESPN. You can listen online at TheSuperStations.com. Follow Bill on Twitter at @billshanks and you can email him at thebillshanksshow@yahoo.com.