Atlanta declined its $5.5 million option on Kinley shortly after the season ended, opting to hand him a $750,000 buyout. The move raised a few eyebrows at the time, given the right-back’s strong work when he joined the team, but now it makes more sense. The Braves get Kinley at a cheaper number while adding the option to keep him through 2027.
The deal is indicative of Kinley’s impressive turnaround last season. The 34-year-old had an ugly 5.66 ERA in the first half with Colorado. It continued a troubling trend, as Kinley had consecutive seasons with an ERA above 6.00. Atlanta picked him up at the trade deadline for a Double-A reliever. The Braves weren’t in the running, so acquiring Kinley was more about giving him an audition for 2026. The gamble paid off, as the veteran allowed just two earned runs in 24 appearances with the team.
Kinley often worked in highly indebted places during his tenure in the Rockies. The role was given to him more out of necessity, not performance. Despite a 6.19 ERA in 2024, Kinley led the team with a dozen saves. He finished his five-plus seasons in Colorado with a 5.05 ERA. Pitching half your games at Coors Field is no easy task, and Kinley’s underlying metrics have routinely been better than his standard run prevention numbers. He had a SIERA close to or below 4.00 in each of his five full campaigns with the team. Kinley’s xERA was three times more than a point lower than his actual ERA.
The Braves have already made several additions in the bullpen this offseason. The club has re-signed Raisel Iglesias in mid-November, then doubled down by seizing Robert Suarez early December. Atlanta also brought back Joel Payamps and veterans collected Ian Hamilton And Danny Jong. Iglesias and Suarez are the clear 1-2 in the late innings, likely giving Kinley opportunities in the middle frames.
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