Veteran right-hander Pierce Johnson and the Reds have reached settlement on a free-agent deal, a number of sources informed MLB.com on Sunday. The group has not confirmed the deal.
Johnson, who will flip 35 in Could, grew to become a free agent when the Braves declined a $7 million membership choice on him for 2026. Atlanta had initially acquired the righty from Colorado earlier than the 2023 Commerce Deadline, and Johnson then re-signed with the Braves on a two-year deal that additionally included that choice yr.
Johnson established himself as a dependable bullpen piece in Atlanta. He was lights-out down the stretch for the 2023 NL East championship group, giving the membership a 0.76 ERA in 24 outings, after posting a 6.00 ERA in 43 outings for the Rockies. Johnson was stable over the previous seasons as nicely, with a mixed 3.36 ERA and 126 strikeouts throughout 115 1/3 innings.
Whereas Johnson has not proven a lot of a platoon cut up over the course of his profession, he did this previous season. He held righties to a .622 OPS and had a 40-to-3 Okay-to-BB ratio in opposition to them, however lefties touched him up for an .800 OPS, whereas strolling 16 occasions in opposition to simply 19 Okay’s.
What Johnson positively gives is curveballs, curveballs and extra curveballs. His hook has at all times been his prime pitch, however he took its utilization to a different stage after coming to Atlanta, throwing it greater than 70 p.c of the time in each 2024 and ‘25. His curveball price was 72.1 p.c in ‘25, placing him greater than 20 share factors forward of some other MLB pitcher. Johnson combines his curve with a mid-90s four-seam fastball that he likes to throw up on the prime of the zone and a cutter that he makes use of sparingly.
Initially a first-round choose (forty third total) by the Cubs within the 2012 Draft out of Missouri State, Johnson was primarily a starter for a lot of his Minor League profession however has began simply two of his 330 Main League appearances (each as an opener). He has pitched for the Cubs, Giants, Padres, Rockies and Braves over eight large league seasons and in addition spent 2019 with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s NPB.
