Alex Anthopoulos provides ominous update on Joe Jiménez

On the pessimistic side of things, Alex Anthopoulos gave a rather ominous update on reliever Joe Jiménez.

“We’ll see as we get closer to spring training. We’ll know more in January,” Anthopoulos said in response to a question about lingering issues with Jiménez’s knee.

Jiménez underwent surgery following the 2024 season to remove cartilage from his knee. The recovery timeline was set at 8–12 months, and he was seen throwing bullpens on social media before suffering an apparent setback that ended his season.

The outlook isn’t particularly promising for an arm that has suddenly become critical following the Braves’ decision to decline the options on Tyler Kinley and Pierce Johnson. Atlanta could really use Jiménez, who has posted a 2.81 ERA over 128 appearances since joining the organization. But given the uncertainty surrounding his health, Anthopoulos has little choice but to assume the worst and look for additional bullpen help this offseason. Right now, the relief group resembles more of an injury-riddled Triple-A unit than a major-league bullpen.