The Atlanta Braves declined the 2026 club options on right-handed relievers Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley, opting to pay a combined $1 million in buyouts instead of guaranteeing them a total of $12.5 million for the season. This move signals a willingness to overhaul the bullpen with cheaper, high-upside options or free agent signings, ensuring they maintain maximum space under the luxury tax threshold.
Performance: Johnson, 34, had been highly reliable for the Braves, posting a strong 2.91 ERA over 147 appearances since mid-2023. He provided consistent, high-leverage innings.
• The Rationale: The decision was purely cost-based. With Joe Jiménez already on the books for $9 million (and now dealing with a second knee procedure), committing another $7 million to a 34-year-old reliever was deemed too restrictive for the Braves’ ambitious offseason plans.
