Pierce Johnson (elbow) ready for rehab assignment

Johnson had a 3.27 ERA, one save, and four holds over 22 innings to start the season for the Reds. His return will be welcome and he could easily factor his way back into the late-inning competition after a few good appearances.

It’s another big blow to the Reds pen just after losing Graham Ashcraft. Johnson had a 3.27 ERA, one save and four holds over 22 innings to start the season. With him and Ashcraft out of the mix, Tony Santillan is looking like the heavy favorite for saves until Emilio Pagán returns.

This was after Tony Santillan blew a two-run lead in the ninth, so this seems like a big swing in maybe getting Johnson some additional save chances. Graham Ashcraft also helped himself by retiring five of the six batters he faced between the seventh and eighth tonight.

Johnson worked in the sixth last night and came into a tie game in the seventh tonight before leaving with Reds down two. So, it’s clear Terry Francona has little interest in saving him for the ninth. Maybe he’ll pick up a couple of more saves anyway, but he doesn’t seem to be worth a roster spot in mixed leagues right now.

We might have our answer for who the Reds could turn to in the ninth inning with Emilio Pagán sidelined with a hamstring injury. Leading by two runs, Johnson got the call in the ninth after Graham Ashcraft tossed a scoreless eighth. Johnson pitched a clean frame, securing the win and converting his first save to go with a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 15/5 K/BB ratio across 16 innings. Johnson, Ashcraft, and Tony Santillan could figure into the daily saves mix.

Johnson returns to Cincinnati’s bullpen after a couple games away from the club on bereavement leave. The well-traveled 34-year-old has made 15 appearances in his Reds debut, posting a respectable 4.15 ERA over 13 innings during that span.

The 34-year-old hurler will be away from the team for a couple of days. Johnson has been a capable addition to the Reds’ bullpen this season, compiling a 4.15 ERA 1.46 WHIP and a 13/4 K/BB ratio over his first 13 innings. Zach Maxwell was recalled from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Johnson will make $5.5 million in 2026 and then get a $1 million buyout of his $8 million mutual option. Well, he didn’t actually say that, but that’s how it always works out. Johnson’s 3.05 ERA last season was his best mark in his five relatively full major league campaigns, but his strikeout rate fell for a second straight year; he came in at 32% from 2020-23, 28% in 2024 and 25% last year. He’s also a pretty big flyball pitcher while throwing his curve about 70% of the time, and GABP doesn’t seem like a great park for him. He figures to join Tony Santillan in a setup role in front of Emilio Pagán.

Johnson gets a healthy $6.5 million, which is a little surprising given what some similar relievers have signed for. The 34-year-old hurler hit the free agent market in November after the Braves declined their $7 million option on him. Johnson was a key cog in the Braves’ bullpen in 2025, posting a solid 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 59/19 K/BB ratio across 59 innings.

Johnson was effective for the Braves while making $7 million each of the last two seasons, but the decline in his strikeout rate from 32% from 2020-23 to 28% in 2024 and 25% in 2025 seems like a bad sign. He’ll get a $250,000 buyout now, and he should still be in line for a decent one-year deal in free agency.