Atlanta Braves Trade For Hard Throwing Reliever

 

The Atlanta Braves have added a high-leverage piece to their bullpen, acquiring hard-throwing right-hander Joe Jimenez from the Detroit Tigers. 

The Braves have acquired reliever Joe Jimenez from the Tigers for Justyn-Henry Malloy and Jake Higginbotham.

— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 8, 2022

It's a move that almost seems under the radar surrounded by the huge dollars being thrown around at the Winter Meetings. But it's a key trade for both sides. For Atlanta, they get a reliever who misses bats with the best of them, striking out 77 batters in 56 innings this past season for a 12.2 K/9. 

He'll slot into the late innings in a solid Braves bullpen that already includes closer Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, Collin McHugh and Dylan Lee. Jimenez becomes a free agent at season's end.

#Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris on the Joe Jiménez trade: "In the end, it was an opportunity to add a young hitter that we're really excited about and a left-handed reliever that we think can really help us."

— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) December 8, 2022

The Tigers like the deal because they acquire 3B/OF Justyn-Henry Malloy, the No. 6 prospect in the Braves' system, and their top position player prospect. The 22-year-old has posted an .854 OPS in two minor league seasons.

Lefty reliever Jake Higginbotham, 26 posted a 3.30 ERA in four years in the Atlanta system. 

Photo: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports