BREAKING: Joe Jiménez Undergoes Another Knee Procedure, Leaving Braves Anxious About Bullpen Stability and $9M Contract Year.vc
(ATLANTA) — Another significant blow has struck the Atlanta Braves’ bullpen plans. Right-handed reliever Joe Jiménez, who missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing major surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee last November, has had a “cleanup” procedure on the same joint.
The news, confirmed by President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos (AA), leaves the team in a state of high anxiety: Jiménez’s status for the start of the 2026 season will remain unclear until “late December at the earliest,” raising questions about his availability for Spring Training.
The $9 Million Headache
The tension around the Braves’ bullpen has skyrocketed because this setback directly impacts Jiménez’s final year under the three-year, $26 million contract he signed with the team, where he is due $9 million in 2026.
- Financial Risk: The Braves had hoped Jiménez, who posted a phenomenal 2.62 ERA in 2024, would return as their top right-handed setup man to bridge the gap to closer Raisel Iglesias (recently re-signed to a one-year, $16 million deal).
- Wasted Investment: If Jiménez is unable to contribute significantly in 2026, the $26 million contract will have largely gone to waste, paying a high price for just one season of productivity.
Bullpen Instability Magnified
The timing of the procedure is particularly damaging to a bullpen that is already desperate for reliable right-handed leverage arms.
AA and the front office now have no choice but to operate the offseason as if Jiménez will not be a major contributor in 2026. This reality dramatically escalates their need to aggressively shop the free-agent and trade markets for at least one, if not two, high-leverage right-handers to pair with Iglesias.
Even if Jiménez is cleared for Spring Training, the risk of relying on a pitcher who has undergone multiple knee procedures and missed an entire season is simply too high for a team with World Series aspirations. This setback forces the Braves to shift their financial focus from other areas (like shortstop) to stabilizing the bullpen immediately.
