Peach Tree Times

Right-handed relief pitcher Collin McHugh will join the Braves this season on a two-year $10 million deal as a late-inning specialist.

Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves' president of baseball operations, is confident McHugh will be a great fit for the team, the Braves reported in a release.

"Collin is as good as it gets," Anthopoulos said in the release. "He's from Atlanta and really wanted to be here. [Bullpen coach] Drew French and Charlie Morton were with him with the Astros. They rave about him as a teammate and person. You know how much we talk about chemistry, especially with the relievers."

In his 37 appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays last season — 25 of which lasted more than just one inning — McHugh managed a 1.55 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 64 innings, the Braves reported.

"He's every bit a late-inning guy who can get both sides out and set up easily," Anthopoulos said.

McHugh also kept his opponents at bay with a .207 batting average and .252 on-base percentage with the Rays last season, the Braves reported.

Chris Martin's and Jesse Chavez's departure left Luke Jackson as the Braves' only player to begin the season as a right-handed relief option, the Braves reported. McHugh bolsters that bullpen, giving the team another option in that category.

Following the Braves' World Series victory, McHugh joins a bullpen containing a group known as the Night Shift that includes relievers Will Smith, Tyler Matzek, A.J. Minter and Luke Jackson, the Braves reported. Alongside these locks, Darren O'Day, Jacob Webb, Touki Toussaint and Jay Jackson are also in consideration for the bullpen.