Atlanta Braves Bolster Bullpen, Sign Reynaldo López to Multi-Year Deal
The Atlanta Braves have signed relief pitcher Reynaldo López to a three-year, $30 million contract, the team announced Monday morning.
López, who will turn 30 years old before the start of next season, spent six-plus seasons with the Chicago White Sox before he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in July. The Angels ultimately waived López to cut payroll in August, and he ended 2023 with the Cleveland Guardians.
The right-hander will make $4 million in 2024, then $11 million in both 2025 and 2026. The Braves hold a club option on López for $8 million in 2027, which also features a $4 million buyout.
Per the team's announcement, López has agreed to donate 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation, an organization devoted to reaching vulnerable populations and building the community in the Atlanta area.
López made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2016, before he had Lucas Giolito were traded to the White Sox in exchange for Adam Eaton. López was primarily a starting pitcher in his first five seasons in the big leagues, and although he did have one year with 30-plus starts and a sub-4.00 ERA in 2018, he had a 4.77 ERA and 1.392 WHIP for his career through the 2020 season.
Since transitioning into the bullpen in 2021, however, López boasts a 3.14 ERA and 1.064 WHIP. He has a 4.5 WAR in 149 appearances over the last three years.
López went 3-7 with a 3.27 ERA, 1.273 WHIP and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 2023.
The Braves have been overhauling their pitching staff since the offseason began, trading Michael Soroka to the White Sox on Thursday, then Kyle Wright and Nick Anderson to the Kansas City Royals on Friday. They did acquire reliever Aaron Bummer in the trade with the White Sox, though, meaning López and Bummer will reunite after spending seven years together in Chicago.
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