The Braves and Rockies have agreed to a deal sending right-handed reliever Tyler Kinley from Colorado to Atlanta in exchange for Double-A righty Austin Smith. Both teams have announced the deal. Kinley, who’s earning $3MM in the final year of his contract, has an affordable $5MM club option for the 2026 season.
The 34-year-old Kinley has an unappealing 5.66 ERA on the season but has fanned 23.8% of his opponents on the season. Metrics like FIP (4.14) and SIERA (4.15) feel he’s been far better than that earned run average should indicate. He’s been on an excellent run of late, pitching to a 2.37 ERA with a 31.1% strikeout rate and 6.7% walk rate in 19 innings since mid-June.
Kinley’s overall 12.6% walk rate this season is an eyesore, but he’s also been plagued by a fluky 59.4% strand rate that’s well shy of his 68% career mark and the 72% league average. The 6’4″ righty sits 95.2 mph on his heater and boasts a terrific 14% swinging-strike rate, which could give Atlanta some optimism that Kinley’s strikeout rate has room to improve. He’s also among the league leaders in terms of limiting hard contact.
It’s a surprise to see the Braves add a veteran player, given the team’s 45-61 record in an increasingly injury-decimated season. Kinley deepens the current relief corps and brings a hint of upside which, if unlocked, would make him a bargain option for next season. His ’26 club option has a $750K buyout, so Atlanta will be making a net $4.25MM decision in the offseason after Kinley has had a 2025 audition.
In that sense, the Braves — who fully intend to compete in 2026 — are getting a proactive jump start on some offseason shopping. Braves relievers Raisel Iglesias and Rafael Montero are free agents at season’s end. Pierce Johnson is also in the final guaranteed season of his deal, though like Kinley, he has a 2026 club option. Each of Iglesias, Montero and Johnson has been a reported trade candidate as Atlanta begrudgingly concedes to listening on short-term veterans at this year’s deadline.
Going back to the Rockies is the 26-year-old Smith, Atlanta’s 18th-round pick back in 2021. He posted decent numbers in the low minors in 2021-22 after being drafted out of Arizona, but he missed nearly all of the 2023-24 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. Smith tossed 26 innings last year across three minor league levels and posted a 6.92 ERA with nearly as many walks as strikeouts.
He’s been far better this year between High-A and Double-A but still has pedestrian numbers against far younger competition. He’s logged a combined 4.31 ERA with a 26.2% strikeout rate and much improved (but still higher than average) 11.5% walk rate. Smith has yet to climb to the Triple-A level in the minors.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com first reported that Kinley was headed to the Braves in exchange for a prospect. David O’Brien of The Athletic reported Smith’s inclusion in the deal.
A day to go and this is the biggest move. Come on let’s get going
90% of deals happen on deadline day.
Always have
Overstatement. Yes, most happen on deadline. But saying its 90% is supposition and overused cliche. In reality, it does vary from year to year. And we do tend to also see at least a few deals (or more) the second to last day, and of some consequence. It has been slow thus far.
OK….60%
Cespedes family barbecue just put out a list of every years trades made at the deadline.
I never understood why this is. If you like a guy on the 31st, it’s ok to get him on the 27th or 28th.
Because the selling teams wait till the last minute in case another team gets involved. Injuries happen, other teams needs change, there’s no advantage to the selling team to make the trade early.
It’s not about the buying team
I guess that makes sense, but it’s a roll of the dice. AZ could have lost out on trading Suarez, with that HBP.
The buyers are making their best offers when it matters most.
“A day to go”..The Braves are resigned to the fact that this is not going to be their year and are merely trying to finish out the season.
When you’re playing out the string, there generally will be no “big” moves forthcoming and it’s usually time to plan for next year
.
Wonder if they acquired him to deal him.
Surely you jest, man
Here in Pittsburgh, the Pirates have been playing out the string since early May
And yet, this is our most wonderful time of year
Trade deadline time
Let us enjoy our misery in peace
Hot Stove?! More like an ice chest.
I don’t think the Clippers are done signing yet. Head back over here when the NBA offseason is over, towinagain, the Padres might have 5-6 new guys on the roster by the time you get back.
Might as well cancel the trade deadline at this point
I do not understand why teams on either side of the market wait so long to make deals. You should want the player for as many games as possible and it’s no secret at this point which guys are on the market. A good/bad series shouldn’t decide what your plan is. If you’re gonna trade for someone, just do it already
The big deal we’ve been waiting for.
What were you expecting? Don’t expect too much with what the Braves have to offer.
I expect orgs to make trades that help their teams. Not a Braves fan.
Poverty
Your posts are absolutely ridiculous. This is the first losing season the Braves have had in years. Where’s your twin brother tradeacuna?
Completely ridiculous. Rockies fans would be thrilled with 45-61 at this point in the season. Better a down year with real optimism for next year than a down franchise.
Braves had probably the worst injury luck you can imagine and while they do spend money, they didn’t have the crazy depth that the Dodgers do that allowed them to weather the storm. People act like their gm is awful when their process and results were fantastic until now.
What is the point of this? The Braves are not making the playoffs
2026?
I guess the Braves disagree with those MLBTR commenters who think this team has had its window closed.
Playoffs are not, they need to field a major league roster. And there is a club option for next year.
“or” not…
Bummer, Montero and Santos are absolute trash. The Braves are just trying to finish out the season and they’re trying to get different arms
What’s Atlanta even doing?
Giving this dude an audition in Atlanta to see if he’s worth the $5m option next year while replacing the relievers being traded away?
Saves $2 million vs Johnson if they go that route.
I mean, the guy hasn’t been effective in a couple of years now. Surely there’s better ways to spend 5 million.
Thats in Colorado. Now go look at his road #s.
And that is exactly the point of this trade: to vet that and see if it plays out permanently once he leaves there.
The same thing was said about Pierce Johnson in COL and Aaron Bummer in CWS…even Iglesias at the end of his LAA stint. Not saying this is a hit, but they are pretty good at identifying RPs, making some adjustments, and getting the most out of them. Look at Kirby Yates’ resurrection a couple of years ago.
Now, if that could only translate to position players. smh
Pierce Johnson
Not only that but look at his splits vs the Braves.
He’s dominated Atlanta for years.
$5 million affordable contract for a guy with an ERA north of 5.
Said affordable, not wise
The last high ERA guy the Braves got from Colorado (Johnson) worked well for us.
It still is.
AA didn’t even look at his era as it would be useless to do so
You can’t judge a reliever’s ERA based on being a Rockies, look at his road numbers, they’re fine. It’s a low cost arm to help finish our a dreadful year and a cheap arm to bring back next season if he shows any promise the next two months.
This is a precursor move to a couple of The Braves bullpen arms going elsewhere tonight/tomorrow.
They probably believe some of it is Colorado and bad luck and he can be better with Atlanta.
Good call. Low cost and they can release him end of the season if it’s not bad luck and coors
Correct. They are about to unload anyone in their pen that’s got value and keep anyone who is cheap and locked up next year. Gotta fill out the pen with somebody.
Good deal. Gives them an arm for this year to see what they can do with and he’s got an affordable option for next year.
Looks like Atlanta is getting their bullpen pieces for 2026 in place with this trade, and it took one tradeable piece from the teams that wanted relief arms.
The Braves are acquiring anyone who is breathing at this point. Sad.
WOW. Big move!
Braves trying to catch lightning in a bottle again like they did with the deadline deal in 2023 for Pierce Johnson. Take a Rockies pitcher with bad stats and good metrics and see what he can do with just a few tweaks. If it works they get a piece for 2026 and doesn’t kill the bullpen for the rest of this season after they trade off Iglesias, Montero, and maybe Bummer and/or Johnson.
Will he maybe be their closer once Raisel is moved? Or are we talking committee style with them too? Regardless, somebody’s got to get the save chances that appear ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
This deal makes no sense
For either side. The Rockies might as well keep TK if the best they can get is a 26 year old AA pitcher with an ERA around 5.00.
Someone needs to tell the Braves that they have the fourth worst record in baseball.
They won’t in 2026 and if they do with this guy what they did with Johnson it is a cheap nice bullpen piece next year. He also is on a run of good performance this year, and we have a bad bullpen this year that won’t be helped by trading Iglesias by tomorrow.
Hw do you write five paragraphs about a player going from Colorado elsewhere without citing the home/road splits? Opponents have a .812 OPS against him in Col, and just .608 on the road.
Good question
Or at least adjusted stats
Nice under the radar move. I think Kinley is a good asset.
Braves promote Brian Snitker from manager to Alternative Analytics Algebra Analyst!
*Brian Stinker
Braves and Rox doing business again. Last time the Braves traded prospects for an underperforming Rockies reliever it worked out for both teams. Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon gave the Rockies 2 prospects who’ve both made the Rockies roster. Pierce Johnson has been good—and affordable— for the Braves since the 2023 deal.
Great post Jeff.
I’m assuming in September the Braves are going to call up every young arm in their system that’s close to major league ready (Ritchie for sure, probably Burkhalter too). Gotta keep a few vets around to clean up their messes. This isn’t a bad move. Hopefully he shows them something for 2026
Expert analysis as always. Has a good K rate. Walks a ton of guys. Only an advanced thinker could put that together. I love the way you just threw in “is one of the best in the league at limiting hard contact” in the last sentence. As if that’s the least significant thing.
I’m glad to see that the Braves are acquiring pitchers and ignoring those who say should just sell. They need healthy pitchers to get through the rest of 2025 and audition for 2026.
I’m ok with this move so long as we trade RI, Montero, and Ozuna. We can’t hold on to them
@bravesfan: Got our wish on Montero………