ATLANTA, January 10, 2026 – The Atlanta Braves adn right-handed pitcher Tyler Kinley have agreed to a one-year, $4.25 million contract, according to reports. This reunion brings a valuable bullpen piece back to the team after a successful audition period.
Kinley Returns on a flexible Deal
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the Braves have secured Kinley for the 2026 season with a club option for 2027, offering financial flexibility.
- Kinley’s contract includes a $3 million salary for 2026 and a $1.25 million buyout on a $5.5 million club option for 2027.
- Atlanta declined its $5.5 million option on Kinley following the end of the previous season.
- The 34-year-old experienced a importent turnaround in performance after being acquired by the braves mid-season.
The deal structure-$3 million for 2026 and a $1.25 million buyout on a $5.5 million club option for 2027-allows the Braves to retain Kinley at a reasonable cost while maintaining the option to bring him back for another year. Kinley is represented by Paragon Sports International.
A Second Chance in Atlanta
Atlanta declined its $5.5 million option on Kinley shortly after the season concluded, opting for a $750,000 buyout. At the time, the decision raised some eyebrows given Kinley’s strong performance after joining the team. However, this move now appears strategic, allowing the Braves to re-sign him at a more favorable price point and retain control through the 2027 option.
Kinley’s 2025 season was a tale of two halves. He struggled to a 5.66 ERA with the Colorado Rockies in the first half, continuing a trend of subpar performance over the previous two seasons. The braves acquired him at the trade deadline for a Double-A reliever, viewing the move as a low-risk chance to evaluate him for the future. The gamble paid off handsomely, as Kinley allowed only two earned runs in 24 appearances for Atlanta.
Coors Field and Underlying Metrics
During his five-plus seasons with the Rockies,Kinley often found himself in high-leverage situations,sometiems due to necessity rather then consistent performance. Despite posting a 6.19 ERA in 2024, he still managed to lead the team with 12 saves. Pitching in the challenging environment of Coors Field undoubtedly impacted his conventional statistics, but his underlying metrics consistently painted a more favorable picture.His SIERA (Skill-Interactive ERA) remained close to or below 4.00 in each of his five full seasons with Colorado, and his xERA (expected ERA) was more than a run lower than his actual ERA on three separate occasions.
Braves Bolster Bullpen
Kinley joins a revamped Braves bullpen that has already seen the re-signing of Raisel Iglesias in mid-november and the acquisition of Robert suarez in early December. Atlanta also brought back Joel Payamps and added veterans Ian Hamilton and Danny Young. With Iglesias and Suarez expected to handle the late-inning duties, Kinley is likely to be utilized in middle-relief roles.
Did you know?-Tyler Kinley’s performance improved significantly after joining the braves. He transitioned from struggling with the Rockies to becoming a reliable reliever in Atlanta, allowing only two earned runs in 24 appearances.
