Early on in the 2026 offseason, the Atlanta Braves opted to part ways with reliever Pierce Johnson, opting not to exercise his player option. Keeping the right-hander would've cost the Braves $7 million compared to a $250,000 buyout that made far more sense after an uneven season. The move was made alongside the decision not to retain fellow reliever Tyler Kinley, who has since been re-signed to a far more team-friendly deal.
Braves fans wondered how long it would take Johnson to find a new home. Well, the answer to that was "two months," as the veteran's search is officially over.
According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Cincinnati Reds have signed Johnson to a deal with contract details not yet published. It is a solid move for an underwhelming bullpen that badly needs the experience and stability.
Having Joe Jimenez returning for the 2026 season, as well as the signing of Robert Suarez, Atlanta's bullpen is in a far better position after Johnson's exit. It simply didn't make sense to retain a piece that cannot be relied on in big spots, with two blown saves serving as evidence. When Raisel Iglesias was struggling, and Atlanta needed some stability, Johnson couldn't provide it, and now finds himself with a middling franchise.
Ex-Braves Reliever Pierce Johnson Joins Reds Bullpen in Free Agency
Johnson finished the season with a respectable 3.05 ERA with one save in 65 relief appearances, striking out 59 batters along the way. For the Reds, this makes it clear why they made the move, with the franchise having the highest ERA among last season's postseason field. Not being an attractive landing spot due to limited talent and little recent postseason success, it makes sense that the Reds reached for the former Brave.
Atlanta is in a far better position with its current bullpen and has no reason to regret its early-offseason decision. Moving on from Johnson was the right move, allowing the right-hander to find a landing spot where he has a far better chance to pitch in high-leverage innings. He wouldn't have gotten similar opportunities had he stayed with the Braves.
Turning the page away from Johnson showed the Braves are serious about finding new answers and no longer settling for mediocrity. It is a great development for Atlanta and a chance for a veteran reliever to begin anew with a team that can offer more consistent late-inning opportunities in a stabilized role.
Needless to say, it'll be interesting to see if Johnson is given the ball at any point when the Braves and Reds first square off next season in late May.