Colorado Rockies Trade Reliever Pierce Johnson to Atlanta Braves

The Braves are sending minor leaguers Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon back to the Rockies, costing them two of their top-30 prospects.

The Colorado Rockies have agreed to trade relief pitcher Pierce Johnson to the Atlanta Braves, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Monday. The Braves are sending right-handers Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon back to the Rockies.

Johnson is 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA through 43 appearances in 2023, adding 13 saves while racking up 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Since June 21, Colorado was 8-4 when Johnson pitched, and he put up a 3.27 ERA and 14.7 strikeouts per nine innings in those 12 games.

Entering this season, Johnson was 10-9 with a 4.05 ERA across 140 career appearances with the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.

The Braves already boasted the second-lowest bullpen ERA in the league at 3.50, as well as the lowest bullpen WHIP at 1.19.

However, Atlanta transferred 39-year-old right-hander Jesse Chavez from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Sunday. Chavez had a 1.55 ERA and 1.034 WHIP in 31 relief appearances this season.

Right-hander Nick Anderson went on the 60-day injured list himself on July 8, which was just one week after the Braves also moved left-hander Dylan Lee from the 15-day to the 60-day. Left-hander AJ Minter, meanwhile, still has a few days left on the 15-day injured list.

With so many injuries throughout their bullpen, the Braves were willing to part with a couple of top prospects in order to add a 32-year-old veteran into the mix.

Vodnik was the No. 8 pitcher and No. 10 overall player in Atlanta's farm system, according to MLB Pipeline, while Gordon ranked No. 14 and No. 26, respectively.

The 25-year-old Gordon has split his 2023 season with Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett. In 17 appearances and 16 starts, Gordon has a 5.86 ERA and 1.360 WHIP.

Vodnik, on the other hand, has been with Double-A Mississippi all year, although he did spend most of 2022 in Triple-A. The 23-year-old is 5-1 with seven saves in 61 relief appearances over the past two seasons, boasting a 2.75 ERA and 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings in that span.

Colorado's bullpen ranks No. 25 in ERA and No. 27 in WHIP this season, even if it has gotten consistent production out of Jake Bird, Daniel Bard, Brad Hand, Brent Suter and Justin Lawrence. MLB Pipeline has given Vodnik a major league ETA of 2023, so he could potentially bolster the Rockies' reliever options as soon as this fall.

The Rockies are sitting in last place in the NL West at 39-60, giving them plenty of wiggle room to experiment in these last two months of the season.

The Braves' 64-34 record is the best in baseball, and it puts them on pace for a 106-win campaign. With Johnson joining their bullpen, Atlanta now has another arm is can turn to in key moments in the coming months.

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