The Atlanta Braves are facing a challenging stretch after being swept by the Minnesota Twins, with the team now preparing for a demanding road trip that will take them through four cities in just five days.
The difficult schedule has only added to the pressure surrounding a club searching for consistency.
Amid the rough stretch, Atlanta made a significant bullpen decision Tuesday by releasing veteran reliever Tyler Kinley.
Rather than optioning another reliever with minor-league options remaining or designating recently recalled Ray Kerr for assignment, the Braves chose to part ways with Kinley, whose struggles had continued to mount this season.
Kinley originally joined Atlanta at last year’s trade deadline after the Braves acquired him from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for minor-league pitcher Austin Smith.
The right-hander quickly exceeded expectations following the move, posting a remarkable 0.41 ERA and 0.73 WHIP across 21 appearances and 22 innings for Atlanta. His strong performance made him one of the team’s most successful under-the-radar additions at the time.
However, Kinley was unable to maintain that success this season. His performance declined as the year progressed, while his role within the bullpen gradually diminished.
With the veteran struggling to regain his previous form and Atlanta needing to make room while reshaping its pitching staff, the Braves ultimately decided that moving on was the best option.
Kinley now becomes a free agent and will have to search for another opportunity to continue his career. The veteran has earned $12 million during his MLB career, but his recent struggles apparently made him expendable for Atlanta.
With the Braves still working to stabilize both their bullpen and starting rotation, the organization evidently viewed releasing Kinley as a manageable decision despite the success he had delivered after joining the club last season.
