The offseason continues to roll on for the Atlanta Braves. They've been focused on bolstering their bullpen right now. Tyler Kinley recently returned on a one-year, $4.25 million contract. Things are starting to look very good for Atlanta's relief core.
Unfortunately, former Brave reliever Pierce Johnson departed Atlanta after he reportedly agreed to a contract with the Cincinnati Reds for 2026.
Reds, RHP Pierce Johnson reportedly agree to deal, per @MLBNetwork insider @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/qCObrP5fzy
— MLB (@MLB) January 11, 2026
Braves lose Pierce Johnson to the Reds, but it was worth it
Johnson was acquired by the Braves back in 2023 despite his 6.00 ERA in the first half of that season with the Rockies. Once he landed in Atlanta, things turned around quickly with a 0.76 ERA over 23.2 innings. The key was that he limited walks and hard contact. This impressed the Braves so much that they rewarded him with a two-year, $14.25 million contract extension. His deal also included a $7 million option for 2026 with a $250,000 buyout.
Johnson pitched well during the 2024 and 2025 seasons with a combined 3.36 ERA over 115 innings, including 44 walks and 126 strikeouts. However, the Braves declined his option for 2026, and he became a free agent.
A noticeable decline in his peripherals led to this decision for the Braves. The last month of the season really doomed the right-hander as he had an 8.31 ERA over 11 appearances, with eight earned runs allowed, one walk, and nine strikeouts. It certainly doesn't hurt the argument for the choice that the Braves used the savings from letting Johnson walk and not paying him the $6.5 million the Reds gave to help pay Robert Suarez who is a strict upgrade.
As for Atlanta's bullpen, it's looking pretty solid for the 2026 season. The core consists of Aaron Bummer, Tyler Kinley, Joel Payamps, Hunter Stratton, Dylan Lee, Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias. They'll still need to figure out a long relief option, but there are internal options like Grant Holmes and Joey Wentz.
It's sad to see Johnson go, as he was mostly great when pitching and seemed like a great teammate. Unfortunately, that's the nature of baseball. Sometimes your path takes you elsewhere.