The Braves have declined their club option on right-hander Tyler Kinley, according to a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Kinley will receive a $750K buyout and head into free agency rather than collecting a $5.5MM salary for the 2026 season.
The move to decline Kinley’s option is something of a surprise. The right-hander pitched to a 3.96 ERA with a 3.69 FIP in 72 2/3 innings of work overall in 2025, but those solid yet unspectacular overall results don’t tell the whole story. After being traded away from Coors Field to Atlanta at the trade deadline, Kinley flourished. He posted a microscopic 0.72 ERA in 25 innings of work, striking out 23.4% of his opponents with a 6.4% walk rate. That drop in free passes was especially notable given that he’s walked 11.1% of his opponents throughout parts of eight seasons in the majors, the majority of which came as a member of the Rockies.
Between Kinley’s big step forward in Atlanta, the club’s decision to trade for him at the trade deadline in an non-competitive year in the first place, and a bullpen that already stands to lose Raisel Iglesias in free agency this winter, the $4.75MM decision to keep Kinley in the fold seemed like an easy one for the Braves to pounce on. That’s not the path they’ve chosen, however, and Kinley will now head into free agency to become one of a vast pool of interesting middle relief arms available.
The decision to decline Kinley’s option could suggest some financial limitations facing Atlanta’s front office. Last winter saw the Braves kick off the year by shedding salary in some surprising ways, dumping Jorge Soler’s contract in a trade with the Angels and declining catcher Travis d’Arnaud’s club option while restructuring a number of contracts to provide more short-term financial flexibility. Those efforts allowed Atlanta to add Jurickson Profar to their outfield mix last year, and it’s not impossible to imagine the decision to decline Kinley coming from a desire to make sure that Atlanta has the resources available they’ll need to pursue their goals this winter. It seems likely the Braves will add at least one starter to their rotation, and they’ve made no secret of their desire to retain shortstop Ha-Seong Kim after they claimed him off waivers from Tampa back in September.
Checking those boxes on the offseason to-do list will come with significant price tags, but finding another quality relief arm for the Braves’ bullpen might be possible to do for less than the $4.75MM they’re saving by parting with Kinley. It’s not uncommon for teams to turn waiver pickups and minor league signings into stalwart bullpen pieces who wind up getting crucial outs in high leverage situations. The Dodgers uncovered a gem in that manner a few years ago when they brought Evan Phillips into the fold, while teams like the Cubs, Rays, and Brewers typically construct nearly their entire bullpen using this method. That strategy has not been one the Braves have employed in the past, instead happily investing significant dollars into contracts for players like Iglesias, Joe Jimenez, Pierce Johnson and Aaron Bummer. After a disappointing 2025 season that wound up being the worst of Alex Anthopoulos’s tenure in the organization, however, it’s worth wondering if the decision to part with Kinley could suggest a change in approach.
What was the point of trading for him in the first place if they weren’t going to make the playoffs? Even at the time, I thought it was weird they wanted to try out Tyler Kinley of all pitchers.
AA was buying low on another Colorado pitcher with eyes toward 2026. It worked out great…not keeping him now is the weird part.
You kind of get the impression they never intended to bring him back. If that short performance doesn’t get him there I dont know what else he could have done.
Between Kinley’s performance before he landed in Atlanta and his salary, the Braves were able to acquire him with a bag of balls carried to Colorado by a 26 year old prospect that is presently in AA ball, Austin Smith. I’d guess they just needed another arm. They might not have expected Kinley to have a strong performance that has some validation.
Didn’t see that coming.
They have to save a roster spot for Jesse Chavez!
Jesse Chavez retired
That’s what you think.
so the Braves wanted him 3 months ago when he was struggling in Colorado
but don’t want him anymore after he was dominant in Atlanta
They seem to be VERY short of money and can’t spend $5.5m on a middle reliever. Either that or they know something about his elbow …
Gotta save that money for Iglesias…..
Very surprising, given his performance in Atlanta after coming over from Coors Field.
Braves have to clear up some spots to bring the injured back on the 40 man roster. Also have to protect a few players from rule 5 draft.
We’re in November let’s give the Braves till spring training to see what moves they do before we complain about things.
These dudes might be slow
That seems like a really affordable contract for a solid middle reliever. Couldn’t they have just picked up his option and tried to trade him? Or did they seriously not want to devote a roster spot to him, even temporarily?
Ha-Seong Kim was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay NOT Atlanta as you stated.
No surprise here. Team can’t afford even the middlest of middle relievers.
This move only makes sense if there is some health concern with Kinley.
If he’s healthy, the Rockies should offer to bring him back for 5 million or so.
Guys, Kinley is going to be 35 in a few months & his career ERA in the big leagues is 4.75. His career ERA away from Coors ain’t that great, either. He went on a heater last year & relievers do that. No team is going to count on this guy for high leverage innings in 2026. Not even the White Sox. By far the highest likelihood outcome for Kinley in 2026 is turning back into a pumpkin.
This is confusing. Maybe they’ll sign him to a multiple year deal at less per year?
It’s really early in the off season and to spend $5m on a 35 YO average pen arm now seems foolish. Yes, he did pitch well while here for a
Couple months, but it’s reasonable to expect it won’t likely happen again given his track record.
They are holding their powder for more pressing needs, esp a starter and SS? Maybe this is the year AA actually dives into the deep end of the FA pool. He can find lower leverage BP arms later this winter.