The Atlanta Braves have continually added to the bullpen early in the offseason, bringing back Raisel Iglesias and Joel Payamps. Atlanta has continued this trend, signing former New York Mets reliever Danny Young to a major league deal, according to MLB Trade Rumors. It is a potential bargain of a deal with Atlanta, giving Young stability while understanding that he is unlikely to return until after the All-Star Break, having undergone Tommy John surgery this past May.
Young is likely a familiar name for many Braves fans, with the left-hander being in the organization in the 2023 season. The bulk of this was spent in the minor leagues, but the reliever did pitch 8 1/3 innings, appearing to be a solid relief option as he recorded a 1.08 ERA and 11 strikeouts. Bringing back a player who could give you a bit of midseason upside at a low cost is a solid move for the Atlanta front office.
The only concern with the move is if it signals a trend of the Braves remaining content to bargain shop to attempt to rebuild the bullpen. It is the approach that the franchise took a season ago, and the results were obvious. There wasn't a single relief option Atlanta was able to rely on throughout the entire season, pointing to a needed sense of urgency to rebuild the unit.
Danny Young Gives Braves an Interesting Bullpen Arm in 2026
Young is a solid piece that gives the franchise an interesting mix of left-handed options with Joey Wentz, Aaron Bummer, Dylan Lee, and Dylan Dodd all currently considered as potential contributors. Bummer appears to be the only arm out of this group that should be locked into a spot. The rest could be moved or taken out of the pen if the Braves make the needed upgrades.
For Young, it is a great opportunity to step into a quality organization and take pressure off the next weeks of rehab. The only downside is the fact that he is coming off an injury-riddled 2025 season in both the rotation and bullpen. Taking a swing on an injured player is a bit of a risk, leaving time to tell if it'll pay off.
However, considering that Young is scheduled to make less than $1 million when on Atlanta's active roster, it is still a very low-risk move. It is the type of transaction the franchise should continue to make throughout the offseason, as well as spending to land an established bullpen arm or two.
For the Braves to return to postseason relevance, the franchise must be willing to spend. This is especially the case when you look at a bullpen that is currently stocked with question marks. Bringing in more bargain deals like Young, while moving Reynaldo Lopez back to the bullpen, appears to be the clearest path forward. Regardless, it is a solid reunion and one that can be easily escaped if things go awry.