Sport betting online indicates that the Atlanta Braves could have a new closer next baseball season as the team signed left-hander Billy Wagner to a one-year contract. At one time Wagner was considered one of the best closers in the league and he could help the Braves next sports betting season.
Sport betting online had Wagner signed for $7 million in 2010 and that signing includes a club option at $6.5 million for 2011. “We feel this is a great start for us to put together a championship-quality team for 2010,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said, “Billy has been at the top of our list as a player we wanted to acquire for some time, and we’re excited to have him anchoring our bullpen.”
The Braves are looking at possibly losing relievers Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano who are free agents. Getting Wagner protects the Braves in case they lose one or both of them. Wagner is sixth on baseball’s career list with 385 saves. He was very solid last sports betting year after coming back from Tommy John surgery. He had a 1.72 ERA and struck out 26 batters in 15 2/3 innings with the Mets and Red Sox last sport betting online season. Anytime you can get a left hander that can still throw effectively and impact sport betting online, you do it.
The Braves were 86-76 last sport betting online season. That was good for third in the National League East as sport betting online standings show. The team has a talented group of pitchers that Wagner should help. Jair Jurrjens led the team with a 2.60 ERA while Derek Lowe led the team with 15 wins as sport betting online stats show. Atlanta’s pitching was so good in sport betting online that they ranked 3rd in the league in ERA a year ago. They were first in quality starts. They were 6th in the league in most strikeouts and Wagner should increase that sports betting number.
The Braves didn’t score enough runs last year to win consistently in sport betting online. They were just 17th in the league in runs scored per sports betting game. Getting Wagner is just the first step if the Braves want to be a serious contender in sport betting online next season. They will need to pick up some hitting help and hope they don’t lose too many players in free agency if they want to win versus sport betting online odds.