Atlanta Braves Roster Update: Reynaldo Lopez and Aaron Bummer ink multi-year deal to strengthen pitching staff

On Saturday, the Braves announced that pitchers Reynaldo Lopez and Aaron Bummer would be extended to respective multi-year deals. Both arms are coming off some of the strongest years of their careers, which helped their club immeasurably as Atlanta dealt with some high-profile pitching injuries in 2024.

Lopez was signed to a three-year, $30 million deal. Under the terms, Lopez will earn $8 million in 2025 and $14 million in 2026, with an additional club option for another $8 million in 2027. Bummer, a relief arm, will earn $13 million over the next two seasons.

"#Braves Sign LHP Aaron Bummer & RHP Reynaldo López:" - Atlanta Braves

With a cumulative ERA of 3.49 in 2024, the Braves were tied with the Seattle Mariners for the lowest figure in MLB. With injuries to arms like Bryce Elder and Spencer Strider, other starting arms like Reynaldo Lopez had large expectations on their shoulders. In the case of the 30-year-old Dominican, he certainly answered the call.

In his first season as a starter since the 2019 campaign with the Chicago White Sox - when he allowed a league-high 110 earned runs - Lopez looked like a new arm. In 25 appearances, Lopez fired 148 strikeouts in 135.2 innings, pitching to a 8-5 record alonside a 1.99 ERA. However, because Lopez fell short of 162 inning threshold, Chris Sale technically recorded the lowest ERA on the team.

"Reynaldo Lopez's 2Ks in the 7th. On 1 day rest after coming back from the IL. Insanity." - Pitching Ninja

The $13 million pledged to Aaron Bummer over the next two years represents a riskier investment for the Atlanta Braves. Bummer, 31, was traded from Chicago to the Braves last November. In 55.1 innings, Bummer went 4-3, pitching to a 3.58 ERA, and posting 69 strikeouts.

Reynaldo Lopez re-signing could make Braves the most feared pitching club in MLB

An All-Star for the first time in his career in 2024, Reynaldo Lopez was still vastly underrated, especially given how much his team came to rely on his arm. However, with only four innings of postseason experience under his belt, the goal should be getting the Dominican to the postseason, as Chris Kilne wrote for Fansided:

"If Lopez can match last season's production in 2025 and the rest of Atlanta's rotation doesn't crater, he could get the chance to showcase his repertoire properly in October."

Extending Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez, now all Atlanta needs is for their bats to perform more like they did in 2023.