How Reynaldo López May Factor Into the Atlanta Braves' Mix In 2027

As the Atlanta Braves head into the offseason, their focus to bolster their roster will likely circle around the starting pitching market, as the team’s rotation depth fell short towards the end of the year. 

Multiple injuries and overall inconsistencies played a factor in that being the case for the Braves, though one pitcher in particular dealt with both of those, affecting his impact on the team this past season. 

Reynaldo López, who will be entering his age-33 season with the Braves in 2027, will be facing a pivotal year after what was a concerning campaign in 2026 for a number of reasons. After signing a three-year deal with the Braves prior to the 2024 season and having his club option for 2027 waived, López is set to be a free agent after the upcoming season.

However, whether his free agent status is a plus or a loss for the Braves is something that will have to be determined this upcoming year.

When López first arrived in Atlanta in 2024, he stood out to be a marquee acquisition in just the first season of his contract. He made 25 starts and logged 135 ⅔ innings pitched to go with a very impressive 1.99 ERA. López also earned his first All-Star selection that year.

That season marked the first time López reached 100 innings pitched since 2019, when he had recorded over 180 innings pitched for a second consecutive season with the Chicago White Sox. Unfortunately, his inability to give a ton of innings in a season at a consistent rate is what has halted him over the past couple of years — injury trouble.

Towards the end of his stellar 2024 season, López started to experience right shoulder inflammation in September, which would sideline him for a couple of weeks. He ended up not pitching for the Braves in their short postseason run, and the shoulder injuries only got worse from that point on. 

After making a start in the season’s opening week in 2025, López was placed on the injured list on March 31 with a shoulder issue once again. He would end up missing the remainder of the season. 

López made his return to the mound in 2026 with a more versatile role on the Braves’ pitching staff. He made a total of 26 appearances, splitting 13 as a starter and 13 in relief — but the results were lackluster in comparison to his last full season. López recorded a 4.54 ERA in 79 ⅓ innings of work, but dealt with a pair of stints on the injured list in the second half of the year.

Going forward, López will be entering a contract year at age-33 with a pivotal campaign ahead. His impact on the Braves is unclear if it will come in the rotation or in relief, and his level of productivity is uncertain. However, if López were to figure it out on the mound, he could end up being an X-factor on the Braves’ pitching staff.