Reds Sign Reliever Pierce Johnson to $6.5M Deal

Cincinnati, Ohio - The Cincinnati Reds bolstered their bullpen on Sunday by signing veteran reliever Pierce Johnson to a one-year, $6.5 million contract for the 2026 season, according to reports from MLB insider Jon Heyman. Johnson, a 34-year-old right-hander who spent the past three seasons with the Atlanta Braves, brings a proven track record of strikeouts and reliability to a Reds pitching staff already strengthened by recent additions.

Johnson appeared in 65 games for the Braves in 2025, posting a 3.05 earned-run average over 59 innings while striking out 53 batters. Over his 139 total innings with Atlanta across two full seasons and part of a third, he maintained a 2.91 ERA and 158 strikeouts. Acquired by the Braves from the Colorado Rockies at the midpoint of the 2023 season, Johnson thrived after struggling with a 6.00 ERA in 39 innings with Colorado that year. In his initial 23.2 innings with Atlanta, he allowed just two earned runs for a 0.76 ERA and 32 strikeouts, showcasing the swing-and-miss potential of his curveball-heavy arsenal. Career-wide, the Denver native has struck out 10.8 batters per nine innings across eight MLB seasons with the Chicago Cubs, San...