The Atlanta Braves’ bullpen stability has been thrown into serious doubt after President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos revealed that reliever Joe Jiménez (the main character) recently underwent an unexpected “cleanup” procedure on his surgically repaired left knee.
Jiménez, who signed a three-year, $26 million free agent contract with the Braves in November 2023, missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing major surgery to repair cartilage damage in the same knee in November 2024. This second, follow-up surgery casts a significant shadow over the remaining year of his contract and the team’s bullpen plans for 2026.
📉 The $26 Million Question Mark
The Braves originally signed Jiménez to stabilize the high-leverage innings, and the contract was largely successful in its first year (2024), where he posted a $2.62 \text{ ERA}$ over $68.2$. However, the repeated injury issues mean the final year of his deal is now in jeopardy:
| Contract Year | Salary (Approx.) | Status | Concern |
| 2024 | $8 Million | Successful ($\text{2.62 ERA}$) | No issue. |
| 2025 | $9 Million | Missed Entire Season | Full-year loss due to initial cartilage surgery. |
| 2026 | $9 Million | Uncertain | Availability for Opening Day now in question after a second “cleanup” procedure on the same knee. |
The core concern is that the Braves are now facing the distinct possibility that the final $18 million of Jiménez’s deal will result in little to no on-field production, making the contract a major financial and roster liability.
❓ Uncertainty Threatens Opening Day Availability
The “cleanup” procedure, while not immediately alarming in medical terminology, raises serious questions because of the lack of a clear timeline for the 2026 season:
- The Setback: Jiménez was shut down from throwing in late 2025 after experiencing renewed soreness in the knee he had surgery on the prior year. The recent cleanup procedure addresses this setback (Source 1.2, 1.4).
- The Unknown Timeline: Anthopoulos stated the team will not know the extent of Jiménez’s recovery or his availability until late December or January at the earliest (Source 1.1). This leaves the Braves unable to plan for one of their top setup men to start the 2026 season.
- The Organizational Impact: Baseball analysts are urging the Braves to operate this offseason as if Jiménez will not be a major contributor in 2026 (Source 1.4). This forces the front office to aggressively seek another high-leverage right-handed reliever to pair with closer Raisel Iglesias, creating another major hole in the budget and roster plan.
The uncertain status of Jiménez highlights the persistent injury issues plaguing the Braves’ pitching staff and significantly increases the pressure on Alex Anthopoulos to secure outside bullpen help this winter.
