Atlanta Braves closer Jason Grilli ruptured his left Achilles on Saturday during the team’s 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Grilli left the mound and attempted to run and cover the first base bag, but went tumbling to the ground on his way. He was carted off the field and later diagnosed with the ruptured Achilles, which will sideline him for the rest of the season. The injury is a double-edged sword for the Braves. Not only does the team lose its closer for the rest of the season, but the Braves were expected to deal Grilli before the 2015 MLB Trade Deadline, which means his injury will cost the team a potential prospect or two.

New general manager, John Hart, signed Grilli to a two-year deal worth $8 million this past offseason, but with Grilli’s age, and the Braves in rebuilding mode, Hart was hoping to flip Grilli for a potentially solid return at the 2015 MLB Trade Deadline. There are a number of contenders who are seeking an experienced closer, and Grilli would’ve been a cheaper option than Jonathan Papelbon or Tyler Clippard.

Now the Braves lose their closer, who has recorded 24 saves while posting a 2.94 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 45/10 strikeout to walk ratio in 33.2 innings, and it hurts the team’s rebuilding process. With Grilli turning 39 in November, the Braves will have to hope he’s able to return in the same capacity next season, or his deal could become a complete washout.

It’ll be interesting to see who the Braves choose to replace Grilli at closer. In all likelihood, it will be former Baltimore Orioles closer Jim Johnson, who has posted a 2.09 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 44 appearances for the Braves this season. His experience will give him the edge over any of the team’s other options, although it’s possible that Hart cashes in on Johnson’s solid year and trades him at the deadline.

Hart’s focus isn’t on 2015, it’s on 2017 and beyond. The Braves are trying to build with youth, and acquiring top prospects through trades is the best way to accomplish that feat. The Chicago Cubs are an example of the blueprint that the Braves are attempting to follow. Hart wants to take the team from a mediocre contender for a year or two, to a dominant force in the National League for the foreseeable future, and with his track record, expect him to be successful.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.