It really did seem like the Atlanta Braves had gotten lucky when they signed Reynaldo Lopez. Initially thought to be a bullpen addition, the Braves switched Lopez back to the rotation and promptly got an All-Star season out of him. Unfortunately, Lopez’s tenure went sideways after that because of injuries, and now the Braves' handling of Lopez's contract since then is very much in question.
Giving Lopez a three-year, $30 million contract is not the problem here at all. That was a very reasonable rate at the time, especially for what ended up being a rotation arm, and the deal originally included an $8 million club option for added flexibility. No deal comes with zero risk, but Lopez's original contract was perfectly fine.
The problem is that Lopez's shoulder is hurt again, and now the Braves’ rework of his contract before the 2025 season looks like a deeply unfortunate mistake.
Lopez’s revelation that his shoulder has been problematic all year further depletes Atlanta’s rotation depth. Fortunately there’s just 11 regular season games remaining and he wouldn’t have likely been part of the postseason plans https://t.co/RaSr3B5FZJ
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 15, 2026
Reworking Reynaldo Lopez's contract is having some unfortunate consequences for the Braves right now
In the grand scheme of things, any mistake with Lopez is pretty small. We are only talking about a few million dollars of payroll spread over a couple of seasons, which, in theory, is pretty easy for a team that brings in revenue like the Braves do to absorb. However, that doesn't mean there aren't going to be any consequences.
To make some payroll space last season, the Braves agreed to rework Lopez's deal. In exchange for paying him less in 2025, the Braves gave Lopez a bit more guaranteed money and essentially exercised his 2027 option for added security. The idea (and hope) was that Atlanta would use the payroll savings (as well as the savings from reworking Aaron Bummer's deal, which also didn't age well) to reinforce their roster and make a real playoff push.
That playoff push obviously never materialized, and the Braves were one of the worst teams in baseball last season. The team bounced back this season, and that is great, but they are still on the hook for Lopez's money after what has functionally been two lost seasons. Given that Lopez's lingering injury issues are in his surgically repaired shoulder, there is no guarantee whatsoever right now that he will contribute much next season at all.
Now, is paying Lopez $8 million in 2027 a total disaster? No, it is not. However, it is another headwind that could impact the Braves' payroll. Atlanta already needs to reckon with a new $20 million tax bill starting next season, and the CBA could change all of the rules completely. The last thing the team needs is $8 million on their books that isn't contributing, but that could be the Braves' reality with Lopez in 2027.
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