The Atlanta Braves have had a busy offseason to this point. After a bit of a lull period since signing relievers Joey Payamps, Raisel Iglesias, and Robert Suarez, the Braves are back in the news on Saturday for solidifying their 2026 bullpen.
According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Braves are signing reliever Tyler Kinley to a one-year deal worth $4.25 million. The deal includes a $3 million salary in 2026 and consists of a $5.5 million club-option, which gives the Braves a little bit of leverage if Kinley regresses this season. Atlanta traded with the Colorado Rockies for Kinley back at the July trade deadline, and he performed exceptionally well with the Braves.
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Braves Signing Tyler Kinley
With the Atlanta Braves signing Tyler Kinley, their 2026 bullpen feels like it’s essentially in place, unless Atlanta makes any shocking trades or drastic roster changes with the players they currently have.
Kinley spent his 2025 season with both the Braves and Colorado Rockies. With the Braves, he posted a really strong 0.76 ERA over 25 innings, as that’s likely the biggest reason Atlanta made this signing. Overall, in 2025, he recorded a 3.96 ERA in 72.2 innings and 73 appearances, which is super durable for a reliever.
GettyWASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 16: Pitcher Tyler Kinley #45 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after an out of in the ninth inning of game two of a split doubleheader against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
He’s an eight-year MLB veteran who spent six seasons with the Rockies before the Braves. The 34-year-old has to be breathing a breath of fresh air now that he isn’t pitching in Coors Field, which has become increasingly more difficult to pitch in over the years.
There are a couple of ugly mid-6.00 ERA marks over his career with the Rockies, but all things considered, he has been a durable arm his whole career. It’s important to take a closer look at a pitcher like Kinley’s numbers away from Colorado. For example, in 2024, Kinley posted a 5.74 ERA on the road in 31.1 innings. So not great, but he seems to have potentially found something with the Braves’ pitching staff.
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The Braves Have Spent Millions on Their Bullpen
The Braves have been big spenders on the bullpen this offseason. First, they re-signed incumbent closer Raisel Iglesias to a $16 million deal. Next, it was a $2 million deal to Joel Payamps, and the Braves’ big splash is signing Robert Suarez to a three-year, $45 million deal.
So, with the Kinley signing, Atlanta’s bullpen is pretty much set.
The lefties are likely going to be AJ Bummer, Dylan Lee, and potentially Dylan Dodd. For righties, it will be Payamps, Iglesias, Kinley, Suarez, and either Grant Holmes or Bryce Elder could be the eighth option.
It’s a pretty strong core of options at new Braves’ manager Walt Weiss’s disposal, but players will need to stay healthy, especially the ones Atlanta is paying a high-dollar to give ample production.
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