The rebuilding Atlanta Braves have been one of the busiest teams of the offseason, and they recently checked in with the Baltimore Orioles regarding one of their top relief pitchers.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Braves inquired specifically about right-hander Brad Brach.

Sherman notes, however, that negotiations hit a snag when Baltimore asked for Mallex Smith, Atlanta's 2015 Minor League Player of the Year.

The Braves covet Brach, a first-time All-Star in 2016, because of the potential he showed in the first half of last season. The 30-year-old limited opponents to a .155 batting average and recorded a 0.91 ERA before the All-Star break. His second half was rockier, but Brach still finished with a 2.05 ERA across 79 innings.

Brach earned $1.25 million in 2016 and is entering a second round of salary arbitration this winter. He won't become a free agent until 2018.

Smith is valuable to the Braves because of his speed on the base paths and in the outfield. He stole 16 bases during a 2016 season that was limited to 72 games because of a broken thumb that sent him to the disabled list for three months.

The 23-year-old was one of Atlanta's top prospects entering last season after swiping 230 bags in four-plus minor league seasons, but he slashed just .238/.316/.365 in 215 plate appearances with the Braves.

Atlanta’s bullpen ranked in the bottom half of baseball last season in ERA and opponent batting average.

-- Nick Ostiller