ATLANTA – The Atlanta Braves have a big hole in their bullpen now that closer Arodys Vizcaino will miss the rest of the season after undergoing right shoulder surgery.
Vizcaino had the procedure Wednesday in New York. He pitched in four games this season, posting one save and allowing one run in four innings for the reigning National League East Division champions.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos has heard fans chanting at SunTrust Park for the team to sign free agent closer Craig Kimbrel and bring him back to Atlanta, and he indicated the Braves are exploring all available options.
“There’s been a ton of turnover from the beginning of camp to where we are today,” Anthopoulos said Wednesday. “I think it goes without saying we’re going to look to do what we can both internally and externally.”
Even before Vizcaino got hurt, there was speculation that Kimbrel, who closed games for the Boston Red Sox last season – which ended with them celebrating another World Series title – would return to the Braves, his original MLB team. Kimbrel, who is from Alabama, was the NL rookie of the year in 2011 and played with Atlanta until being traded to the San Diego Padres in April 2015 as the Braves dealt away players to rebuild their farm system.