Well, it’s the end of the line for Dany Jiménez with the Atlanta Braves — at least for now.
According to the team’s transaction log, the Braves officially released the 31-year-old righty reliever, closing the door on a short and rocky stint with the club after signing him to a minor league deal back in January.
Jiménez came over after being non-tendered by the A’s in November. He was looking to bounce back and find a spot in a competitive bullpen, but his spring performance didn’t help his cause.
A Tough Spring With the Braves For Jiménez
Jiménez had a disappointing spring training with the Braves. He made just three appearances, throwing a total of only one inning. He faced ten batters during those outings resulting in walking five of them, and allowed two runs in during that extremely limited time.
The control issues that have followed him in recent seasons weren’t exactly fixed in North Port. And with Atlanta’s bullpen already looking crowded — and good — the odds were stacked against him from the get-go.
The Braves already locked in veterans like Raisel Iglesias, Pierce Johnson, Aaron Bummer, and Dylan Lee and just added Héctor Neris and Enyel De Los Santos to the mix. That’s a deep, experienced bullpen, which meant there was little room for someone struggling to throw strikes to climb the ladder.
From Promising Arm to Question Mark
Just two years ago, Jiménez was putting up respectable numbers with Oakland. He had a 3.43 ERA over nearly 58 innings from 2022–2023. While the strikeout rate wasn’t eye-popping (23%), he managed to hold his own. That was despite a 13.4% walk rate that always felt like a ticking time bomb. That bomb went off in 2024.
His walk rate ballooned to over 16%, and his ERA climbed to 4.91. Even more concerning? His velocity dipped. That average fastball that once touched nearly 94 mph is now sitting closer to 92.5, according to Statcast.
Combine that with declining command, and it’s a tough profile for a team like the Braves — who are built to win now — to justify keeping around, even in Triple-A.
What’s Next For Him?
Jiménez still brings some intrigue to the table. He has two minor league options remaining and four years of club control if someone wants to roll the dice. That’s not nothing. But at this point, he’ll likely be looking at another minor league deal somewhere. He needs a team with a little more bullpen uncertainty and a longer leash.
It’s a “prove it” moment now for Dany Jiménez. If he can find the zone again and recover a tick or two on that fastball, there may still be a seat for him somewhere, just not in Atlanta.
