Cartilage issues sideline key reliever Joe Jiménez, casting doubt on his 2026 availability.
The Atlanta Braves placed right-handed reliever Joe Jiménez on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday with a left articular cartilage injury, dealing yet another blow to a pitching staff that simply cannot catch a break.
The move came on the first official day of spring training with pitchers and catchers reporting to North Port, Florida, and it confirmed what many had feared throughout the offseason.
Jiménez is nowhere close to returning to the mound, and his 2026 availability remains uncertain.
The corresponding roster move opened up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Brett Wisely, whom Atlanta re-acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade for cash considerations.
Wisely had been designated for assignment by Tampa Bay after originally being traded there by Atlanta earlier this offseason.
What Jiménez Leaves Behind
Jiménez has not pitched for the Braves since September 30, 2024, when he threw a scoreless inning against the New York Mets.
That turned out to be his final appearance before undergoing surgery in November 2024 to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee, a procedure that cost him the entire 2025 season.
He then had a second cleanup procedure in November 2025 for the same issue, and it is now clear that the knee is still not right.
When Jiménez was last healthy, he was one of the best relievers in baseball.
In 2024, he posted a 2.62 ERA across 69 appearances and 68.2 innings while setting career highs in multiple categories.
He struck out 82 batters, held opponents to a .181 batting average and logged a 0.99 WHIP, all while racking up 27 holds that tied for fourth in the National League.
His expected ERA of 2.48 ranked sixth in all of Major League Baseball according to Statcast.
Jiménez is in the final year of a three-year, $26 million contract and is set to make $9 million this season, meaning the Braves are paying a steep price for a reliever who may not throw a pitch until the second half at the earliest.
Another Pitching Nightmare in Atlanta
The timing of this news makes it sting even more because it came on the same day the Braves placed starter Spencer Schwellenbach on the 60-day IL with right elbow inflammation.
Schwellenbach was expected to be the No. 3 starter behind Chris Sale and Spencer Strider after he put up a 3.09 ERA with 108 strikeouts across 110.2 innings in 2025 before a fractured elbow shut him down.
Losing both arms before a single spring training game has been played is a gut punch for an organization that watched injuries tear apart its 2025 campaign.
Last season, every starter from Atlanta's Opening Day rotation spent time on the injured list.
The Braves finished 76-86 and fourth in the NL East, missing the postseason for the second straight year.
New manager Walt Weiss was brought in to replace the retired Brian Snitker and help turn things around, but the injury bug is already biting before camp even gets going.
Ha-Seong Kim, who signed a one-year deal worth $20 million to play shortstop, is also expected to miss significant time early in the season after undergoing surgery on his hand following an offseason accident.
For the Braves, the hope is that these early setbacks are just bumps in the road rather than a preview of what is to come.
But with Jiménez, Schwellenbach and Kim all facing extended absences, Atlanta's front office may need to get more aggressive in free agency to fill the gaps before Opening Day arrives.