Atlanta Braves right-handed reliever Joe Jimenez (knee) is expected to be out eight to 12 months after having surgery on Oct. 29 to fix cartilage damage in his left knee. The surgery was performed in Chicago by Dr. Brian Cole. We'll have a better idea of Jimenez's specific timetable for a return next year, but he's almost certainly going to miss all of the first half of the 2025 season. It's a significant blow to Atlanta's bullpen, as the 29-year-old hurler was one of the team's best bullpen arms in 2024. Despite going 1-5 in his second season with Atlanta in 69 appearances out of the bullpen, he posted a career-best 2.62 ERA (2.34 FIP), a 0.99 WHIP, three saves, a career-high-tying 82 strikeouts and 23 walks in 68 2/3 innings pitched. Don't be surprised if Jimenez's rehab extends into the second half of next season after the All-Star break.
The Atlanta Braves announced on Thursday that they re-signed right-handed reliever Joe Jimenez to a three-year deal worth $26 million. Jimenez will make $8 million next year and $9 million in each of the final two years of the deal in 2025 and 2026. The 28-year-old bullpen piece went 0-3 with a 3.04 ERA (19 earned runs in 56 1/3 innings) over 59 appearances, including posting a 2.33 ERA and 50 strikeouts in his final 40 games in his first year in Atlanta. Jimenez had a scoreless frame in his only postseason appearance in the National League Division Series against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves acquired him in a trade with the Detroit Tigers last December. Jimenez's 30.7 percent strikeout rate ranked in the 91st percentile in the majors in 2023.
The Atlanta Braves and relief pitcher Joe Jimenez avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.765 million deal on Friday. The Braves picked up Jimenez in a trade last month with the Detroit Tigers. The 27-year-old right-hander had a career-best 3.49 ERA (2.00 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, two saves, 77 strikeouts and 13 walks in 56 2/3 relief innings in 2022 for the Tigers. He has 20 career saves in six major-league seasons with Detroit, but he'll probably only have any fantasy value in holds leagues in 2023 as one of Atlanta's setup men in front of closer Raisel Iglesias. Jimenez holds a 5.24 ERA (4.03 FIP) and 1.34 WHIP in 266 major-league relief innings.
The Atlanta Braves acquired right-handed reliever Joe Jimenez from the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday evening in exchange for outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and left-hander Jake Higginbotham. The Braves need some more bullpen reinforcements after closer Kenley Jansen left in free agency to sign with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Jimenez had a solid year in Detroit last year, posting a 3.49 ERA (1.09 WHIP), a 1.09 WHIP, two saves and 77 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings pitched. With Jansen gone in Atlanta in 2023, Raisel Iglesias figures to open the year as the set closer for the Braves, with Jimenez operating in more of a middle-relief role in his new digs. MLB Pipeline is already listing Malloy as the Tigers' No. 7 prospect. The 22-year-old started the year at High-A and finished at Triple-A and clubbed 17 home runs in the Braves farm system in 2022.
Joe Jimenez Expected To Be Ready For Spring Training
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Jimenez (back) is throwing up to 90 feet without symptoms while working on lumbar and core flexibility and strength, according to the team. He is expected to be ready for spring training next year. Jimenez ended the 2022 season on the injured list due to a right lumbar spine strain, but he should be good to go for the start of the 2023 season. The 27-year-old right-hander had a 3.49 ERA (2.00 FIP), a 1.09 WHIP, two saves and 77 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings pitched over 62 relief appearances.
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Jimenez picked up his first save of the season in Monday's Game 2 5-3 win over the Guardians. Jimenez came in to pitch the ninth inning with a two-run lead and ended the game with a 1-2-3 inning and a strikeout. Gregory Soto has been the team's clear closer this season, but he closed out the Tigers' first game of the day. Jimenez has pitched well this season with a 3.23 ERA over 30 2/3 innings pitched, but his fantasy value is very limited at this time given his limited role.
The Detroit Tigers have optioned relief pitcher Joe Jimenez to Triple-A Toledo. Jimenez had a rough spring. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed six hits, three walks and five runs (three earned) while striking out six. Jimenez had two solid years in a row for the Tigers in 2018 in 2019, earning an All-Star bid in the former season. He averaged 11.2 K/9 in 2018 and 12.4 K/9 in 2019, but his K/9 dropped to just 8.7 last year. His ERA also blew up to 7.15 last year. The Tigers will open the year with Gregory Soto as the team's primary closer. If Jimenez gets back on track at Triple-A, he could still find himself in a key role amidst the Tigers bullpen down the stretch this year.
Detroit Tigers relief pitcherJoe Jimenez was officially named the team's primary closer by manager Ron Gardenhire on Tuesday. This is not surprising news. Jimenez took over as the closer last season after Shane Greene was traded to the Atlanta Braves. He performed well, picking up nine saves and a career-high 82 strikeouts. We would not expect him to replicate his 2018 pre-All-Star ERA of 2.72, but he is locked into the closer role and should receive the majority of the Tigers save opportunities. However, those opportunities will be limited in Detroit. Jimenez should be rostered in most leagues and is a nice late-round pick as a low-end closer if you need saves.
Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Jimenez pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the season Monday against the Orioles. Jimenez got the first two outs effortlessly before making things interesting by allowing three straight singles to bring Trey Mancini to the plate as the go-ahead run. Fortunately for Jimenez, he was able to strike out Mancini and nail down the win for Detroit. He won't get many saves pitching for one of the worst teams in baseball, but Jimenez is the clear-cut closer for the Tigers and his elite 31.7 percent strikeout rate make him a must-own option in any league where saves are a category.
Detroit Tigers eighth-inning setup man Joe Jimenez has an ERA of 6.40 since being named an All-Star last year and has allowed 37 earned runs in his last 52 2/3 innings while taking eight losses and blowing five saves. Manager Ron Gardenhire has relieved Jimenez of his eighth-inning setup duties for the second time in 2019. The goal is to have Jimenez stack a couple of clean outings up in order to rebuild his confidence. With regular closer Shane Greene pitching lights-out this year as well, Jimenez doesn't have any business being owned in fantasy leagues. However, he could become the team's ninth-inning man in the second half if Detroit decides to trade Greene at the deadline.
Joe Jiménez
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Braves
