"The Braves didn't do much at the 2025 Trade Deadline, for good reason: their season had already gone off the rails by late July. One they did do, with an eye for 2026: trade for Rockies reliever Tyler Kinley, whose services came with a $5.5 million option for the following season. Well, it turns out that whether Kinley returns to help the Braves in 2026 is more up in the air now than before:"
"Because, look: if you could be guaranteed a 17 ERA- or a 68 FIP- or something similar to his FIP as suggested by his xERA, you'd take that all day. That's a fantastic relief option. But the xFIP suggests that no one was going to be guaranteed that, as Kinley's strikeout rate actually fell (marginally) after the trade, and a lot of his effectiveness came from not walking anyone."
The Braves made minimal deadline moves because the season had already deteriorated by late July. The team traded for Rockies reliever Tyler Kinley, who came with a $5.5 million option for 2026. Kinley posted much-improved surface results after the trade, but underlying metrics like xFIP and a slight decline in strikeouts suggest those results may not be sustainable. Kinley profiles as a fly-ball pitcher, which raises concerns given Atlanta's late-game home-run issues in 2025. The undecided option adds uncertainty to the bullpen, and the club made internal promotions as part of organizational adjustments.
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