An awful season for the Atlanta Braves could play into the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays.
If we’d known one of these two teams would enter the second week of July with a 39-50 record, most prognosticators probably would’ve chosen the Blue Jays, who finished in last place in 2024.
But instead, Toronto leads the American League East, and it’s the perennial contenders in Atlanta who have fallen flat.
Much like most contending teams, the Blue Jays could use some extra firepower at the back end of their bullpen. The Braves, if they wave the white flag, should have multiple options available.
On Monday, Zach Pressnell of FanSided suggested that Toronto could acquire Pierce Johnson, an eight-year veteran who has pitched to a 2.84 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings this season.
“The Braves will almost certainly look to cut ties with relief pitcher Pierce Johnson ahead of the trade deadline. Johnson is having a great season with the Braves, and his contract expires after next season,” Pressnell wrote.
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
“The Blue Jays desperately need a relief pitcher or two. Their bullpen has struggled a lot this year and the new addition of Jeff Hoffman hasn’t lived up to expectations. While Toronto is expected to target a traditional closer, they could also add Johnson to the bullpen.”
Johnson throws a ton of curveballs, and if anything is going to victimize him, it’s the fly ball. Toronto is virtually identical to Atlanta in terms of home run park factor, so there shouldn’t be too much fear of a home run barrage.
Johnson is on the latter half of a two-year, $14.25 million deal, so the Blue Jays would simply be on the hook for the remainder of his $7 million 2025 salary.
More MLB: Dodgers predicted to bring $5M World Series champ back to LA at trade deadline
