The Atlanta Braves, who won the most games in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season and were eliminated midway through fall ball, are looking to bolster their bullpen.
Atlanta announced today (Nov. 21) that it has signed right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, 29, to a three-year, $30 million contract.
Lopez will make $4 million in 2024 and $11 million in 2025 and 2026.
If Atlanta wants to re-sign him in 2027, it will pay him an $8 million salary and a $4 million penalty if it releases him.
A native of the Dominican Republic, López made his big league debut with the Washington Nationals in 2016 and spent most of 2017 with the Chicago White Sox as a starter.
However, after failing to live up to expectations as a starter, he switched to the bullpen in 2022 and 2023, where he had better results.
In 2023, he appeared in 68 games for three teams – the White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Indians – and posted a 3.27 ERA with 22 holds and six saves.
Lopez, whose primary weapon is a hard fastball that averages 98.2 mph, has struck out 83 batters in 66 innings this year, 먹튀검증토토사이트 averaging 11.3 per nine innings.
Atlanta harvested a major league-high 104 wins in the pennant race but was eliminated in the National League Division Series by the Philadelphia Phillies and is looking to bolster its bullpen.
Atlanta is also reportedly considering making Lopez a starter in spring training next year.