The Atlanta Braves found themselves back in the news on Tuesday after they reportedly signed former New York Mets southpaw reliever Danny Young to a major-league contract. It is a split deal, meaning he will be paid based on how much time he actually spends in the big leagues rather than the minors.
Danny Young spent part of the 2022-2023 season with the Atlanta Braves but made a home in 2024 and 2025 with the Mets. This is now the third reliever Atlanta has inked to a contract this offseason. Most notably, Raisel Iglesias is back with the Braves on a one-year, $16 million deal, and Atlanta also signed Joey Payamps in November. Now that it’s December, the free agent market is starting to heat up.
More MLB on Heavy: Should the Braves Target This Former Cubsâ 2.07 ERA Reliever?
Braves Signing Journeyman Reliever Danny Young
Danny Young is certainly a journeyman-type reliever in MLB. He came into the league in 2022 at the age of 27, and will likely miss parts of 2026 due to rehabbing Tommy John Surgery, which he underwent in May.
During his first tenure with the Braves in 2022-2023, Young recorded just 11 total innings, but didn’t pitch that poorly, as he surrendered just one earned run in that time frame. However, it was a different story with the Mets. 2024 featured his biggest body of work at the big league level, and he posted a 4.54 ERA across 37.2 innings.
Getty
He was non-tendered by the Mets late last month, and once Spring Training opens up in February, he will likely be transferred to the Injured List.
If Danny Young does end up staying on the 40-man roster, that would give the Braves another southpaw option in the bullpen to go along with Aaron Bummer and Dylan Lee.
At 31 years old, Young still comes with five years of team control, considering he has just above a year of MLB service time.
More MLB on Heavy: Bravesâ $73 Million All-Star Tabbed as Top Trade Candidate
What Does This Signing Mean for the Braves?
This is certainly not a needle-moving signing for Atlanta, but Danny Young may be able to become a long relief option for the Braves if he has a strong rehab.
After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015 out of the University of Florida, Young didn’t make his MLB debut until 2022 with the Seattle Mariners.
All-in-all, Young has a career 4.01 ERA over 60.2 innings, and all 63 games he’s pitched in have come via the bullpen.
According to BaseballReference.com, Young is projected to post a 4.09 ERA in 33 innings in 2026. The Braves would certainly consider this signing a win if Young is able to record 33 innings next season.
More MLB on Heavy: BREAKING: Mets Signing Devin Williams to $50+ Million Deal
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Braves Signing Former Mets Southpaw Pitcher to Free Agent Deal appeared first on Heavy Sports.