The 2023 season has wrapped up, but the Atlanta Braves are faced with one last injury setback as they kick off the offseason.
According to Justin Toscano from the AJC, Joe Jiménez, a key setup man for the Braves, recently underwent surgery on his left knee to address cartilage damage, and he may be sidelined for an entire year.
This injury adds to the string of surprises that have marred the Braves’ season. The 29-year-old had been playing through discomfort, but neither he nor the team recognized the severity of the issue until the operation revealed the extent of the damage.
During the season, Jiménez was a reliable presence in a strong bullpen, pitching 68.2 innings with an impressive 2.62 ERA. He was recognized as the Braves’ top reliever by fWAR, concluding the season with a 1.8 WAR.
Impact of Jiménez’s Injury on Braves’ Offseason Plans
As the Braves enter the offseason, they face the prospect of losing A.J. Minter and Jesse Chavez to free agency and must decide on club options for Aaron Bummer and Luke Jackson.
While Bummer had two club options for 2025 and 2026, the Braves opted to restructure and sign him to a two-year deal on Saturday. Meanwhile, they declined their option on Jackson.
With Minter and Chavez potentially exiting the roster, the Braves now need to fill at least two bullpen positions. Despite Jiménez’s injury, the back of the bullpen still appeared solid with Pierce Johnson, Jiménez, and Raisel Iglesias all under contract for the upcoming season.
However, with Jiménez out of the picture, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos may need to pursue a free-agent reliever or consider retaining Minter. Several notable relievers are available this offseason, including Chris Martin, Kenley Jansen, and Kirby Yates.
On the internal front, Dylan Lee and Bummer could see their roles expand within the bullpen, while Anthopoulos might look to sign a budget-friendly reliever to bolster the team.
The Braves have already made several significant moves, including trading former World Series MVP Jorge Soler. Given Jiménez’s injury, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more activity from Anthopoulos in the near future.
