BREAKING: Joe Jiménez Undergoes Another Knee Procedure; Timeline Vanishes, Braves Season Feels Fragile.vc

ATLANTA, GA – The Atlanta Braves are bracing for major uncertainty after relief pitcher Joe Jiménez underwent a second procedure on his left knee this offseason. The news comes as a brutal blow, not only because Jiménez missed the entire 2025 season recovering from the original surgery, but because the timeline for his return has now vanished, turning his $9 million contract year into a sudden, tense question mark.

Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed the right-hander underwent a “cleanup” surgery on the same knee that had cartilage damage repaired last November.

The Vanishing Timeline and Financial Strain

Jiménez, who was a critical setup man for the Braves in 2024 (2.62 ERA), was originally expected to be fully healthy for the start of the 2026 season. This second, unexpected procedure has completely changed that prognosis:

• The Uncertainty: Anthopoulos told reporters the team won’t have a clear timeline for Jiménez’s return until late December or January at the earliest. This raises major questions about his availability for Opening Day.
• The Contract Year: Jiménez is entering the final and most expensive year of his three-year, $26 million contract, owed $9 million for the 2026 season. Having missed all of 2025 and with his 2026 status now in doubt, the deal is casting a significant financial shadow over the bullpen.

Bullpen Fragility and Roster Pressure

The news that Jiménez is essentially a non-factor until at least Spring Training—and possibly beyond—is a major setback for a Braves team that is already aggressively trying to shore up a bullpen that struggled last season.

• A Roster Hole: Jiménez was viewed as a sure thing to slot back into a high-leverage role alongside closer Raisel Iglesias. His absence creates an enormous hole in the right-handed setup options, which were already lacking depth after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
• The Next Move: Baseball insiders believe the team’s internal evaluation of how badly this second procedure impacts Jiménez’s long-term health will directly dictate Anthopoulos’s next moves. If the prognosis is poor, the Braves will be forced to pursue a more expensive, high-leverage reliever on the free agent market, rather than rely on smaller, lower-cost additions.

The Braves’ season suddenly feels fragile again. One more procedure has forced the front office into a frantic search for external help, turning a hoped-for internal fix into an expensive new problem.