Joe Jiménez Could also Return to Atlanta Braves as a Free Agent Signing

The Atlanta Braves lost a couple of big relievers this offseason but have already brought one back in Pierce Johnson. Could Joe Jiménez be next?

The Atlanta Braves lost a couple of big relievers this offseason and have already brought one back in Pierce Johnson. Could Joe Jiménez be next?

While the Johnson signing made a lot of sense, and it wouldn’t be crazy to see Alex Anthopoulos bring back his set-up mate in Jiménez. The combination of Raisel Iglesias, AJ Minter, Jiménez, and Johnson formed a pretty solid back-end of the bullpen down the stretch in 2023.

Those four guys, with Tyler Matzek coming back and hopefully a healthy Dylan Lee, would have the makings of a pretty solid bullpen. The Braves could also bring back Nick Anderson for cheap and Huascar Ynoa might be eased back in a bullpen role.

Jiménez likely will cost a little more considering his age and the fact he’s coming off back-to-back really good seasons. If the Braves could get him for 3 years at $8 million a year, with a fourth-year option and $1 million buyout that might get it done.

That would be nearly a $40 million commitment to four bullpen arms in 2024.

(In 2023 they spent $35 million on Iglesias, Minter, Yates, McHugh, and Jiménez so that much commitment to the bullpen doesn’t seem outrageous for AA and the Braves.)

Atlanta relievers finished 10th in WAR last year, 11th in ERA, and 4th in K/9.

Those top four guys – Iglesias, Minter, Jiménez, and Johnson – all had 0.5 fWAR or more with Minter leading the way at 1.4. And for Johnson, that just includes the 23.2 innings he pitched with the Braves. They also all had a K/9 of 11 or better and a BB/9 under 3, which is what you want out of your bullpen arms.