Braves re-sign pitcher Jiménez to a $26 million, three-year contract, further bolstering bullpen

By: Paul Newberry, The Associated Press Posted: 12:33 PM CDT Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have brought back another key member of their bullpen, re-signing right-hander Joe Jiménez to a $26 million, three-year contract on Thursday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have brought back another key member of their bullpen, re-signing right-hander Joe Jiménez to a $26 million, three-year contract on Thursday.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/11/2023 (725 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have brought back another key member of their bullpen, re-signing right-hander Joe Jiménez to a $26 million, three-year contract on Thursday.

Jiménez will make $8 million next season and $9 million in each of the final two years of the deal. He will donate 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.

The 28-year-old Jiménez went 0-3 with a career-best 3.04 ERA over 50 appearances in his first season with the Braves, who acquired him from the Detroit Tigers in a trade last December.

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Joe Jimenez (77) works in the sixth inning of Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

After a sluggish start, Jiménez pitched much better, recording a 2.33 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings. He added a scoreless inning in his lone postseason appearance.

Jiménez spent six seasons with the Tigers, earning a spot in the All-Star Game during his first full season in 2018.

The re-signing of Jiménez follows a new deal for right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson, who skipped free agency by agreeing to a $14.25 million, two-year contract with the Braves last week.

Johnson will make $7 million each of the next two seasons under a contract that includes a $7 million club option for 2026 with a $250,000 buyout.

Closer Raisel Iglesias, who had 33 saves with a 2.75 ERA, is under contract for two more seasons, while set-up man A.J. Minter (3-6, 10 saves, 3.76 ERA) is heading into his final season of arbitration.

The Braves also are hoping for the return of lefty Tyler Matzek, who missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Atlanta has until next week to decide on club options for relievers Kirby Yates ($5.75 million with a $1.25 million buyout), Collin McHugh ($6 million with a $1 million buyout) and Brad Hand ($7 million with a $500,000 buyout).

Yates, who went 7-2 with a 3.28 ERA and five saves in his first full season since 2019, is the most likely member of that group to return.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb