The Braves Lose 8-Year Veteran Pitcher To Cincinnati Reds

Watch The Braves Lose 8-Year Veteran Pitcher To Cincinnati Reds - Rizzle on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00The Braves lose 8-year veteran pitcher to Cincinnati Reds.

00:04Braves veteran Pierce Johnson is heading to Cincinnati,

00:07and while it won't make the loudest splash of the offseason,

00:10this move is precisely the kind that could pay off when it matters most.

00:15A veteran arm with postseason poise.

00:18The past few postseasons have taught us a few things about modern bullpens,

00:21and one of them is this.

00:23Experience, composure, and a sharp curveball still count for something.

00:28Johnson, who became a free agent after the Braves declined his $7 million option,

00:33checks those boxes, and now the Reds are betting on them.

00:38Johnson's story isn't one of overnight success.

00:40He's battled through stints in Japan, weathered trades,

00:43and carved out a late-career niche as a reliable, if unheralded, reliever.

00:48After the Braves acquired him from the Rockies,

00:50he quickly became a key cog in a stacked Atlanta bullpen.

00:54Over 147 games with the Braves, he posted a tidy 2.91 ERA,

01:00and in the postseason, where lights shine harshest,

01:04he didn't allow a single run in four appearances.

01:07Reds' bullpen looks to level up.

01:10The Reds are aiming to build on a surprising postseason run last year.

01:14Their young core turned heads,

01:16and their bullpen, while serviceable,

01:18now needs reinforcements to endure the grind of a full season and October ambitions.

01:24Johnson doesn't have the velocity of a flamethrower or the viral highlights of a closer,

01:29but what he does offer is consistency and the kind of pitch mix that keeps hitters guessing.

01:34Command, Consistency, and Curveballs

01:37His bread-and-butter curveball remains sharp,

01:40and when paired with a mid-90s fastball, it can still miss bats.

01:44Add a cutter to the arsenal, even as an occasional wrinkle,

01:48and there's a lot to like here.

01:49The Reds don't need Johnson to be a savior.

01:52They need him to be solid, trustworthy, and available in high-leverage moments.

01:57At nearly 35, he's not the future.

01:59But he might be exactly the bridge this Reds bullpen needs right now.