Braves bullpen rounding into shape after reunion with breakout deadline surprise

After the Atlanta Braves re-signed Raisel Iglesias and added All-Star Robert Suarez, the bullpen looked nearly complete. However, most fans and insiders alike knew that the Braves likely needed at least one more bullpen piece to before the 2025-2026 offseason came to a close.

On Saturday, the Braves did just that, reuniting with Tyler Kinley, the soon-to-be 35-year-old righty who was acquired from the Colorado Rockies, on a one-year deal with a club option.

Braves re-sign Tyler Kinley to one-year deal

When the Braves acquired Kinley at the trade deadline, it looked more like an audition for the 2026 bullpen than it was to improve on the 2025 team who was essentially just trying to end a lost season.

Kinley performed quite well for the Braves down the stretch, appearing in 24 games and only allowing two runs in his 25 innings. While his 2.74 FIP indicated he greatly outperformed his 0.72 ERA, it was still an impressive improvement over his first half of the season in Colorado.

It was slightly surprising, then, when the Braves decided to decline the $5.5 million team option they had, allowing Kinley to reach free agency. However, it seems in the end, Kinley wasn't able to find an offer that would've matched the club option that was declined, as he re-signed with the Braves for $1.25 million less guaranteed than he would have made if the team picked up the option.

The deal is worth $3 million with a $1.25 million buyout, and also includes a club option worth $5.5 million, the same option he had in 2025, with the buyout being worth $500,000 more.

To make room for Kinley on the 40-man roster, the club designated Ken Waldichuk for assignment. Waldichuk only spent two days on the team's 40-man roster after being claimed off waivers from the Athletics on January 8. With Kinley signed, the Braves look to essentially have their high-leverage relievers set for the next season.