CINCINNATI -- Reloading the bullpen after multiple free-agent departures has been a priority for the Reds' front office this offseason. Even after a couple of moves seemed to accomplish their goals, the club showed Sunday it wasn't done improving its crew of relievers just yet.
Right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson and the Reds agreed to terms on a contract, sources told MLB.com. The deal, which has not been confirmed by the club, is pending the completion of a physical.
Johnson, 34, was 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.203 WHIP over 65 appearances in 2025 for the Braves, with whom he pitched for the past three seasons. He became a free agent when the Braves declined his $7 million club option for '26.
In 330 games over eight seasons for the Cubs, Giants, Padres, Rockies and Braves, he has a 3.79 ERA.
While Johnson has not shown much of a platoon split over the course of his career, he did this past season. He held righties to a .622 OPS and had a 40-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio against them, but lefties touched him up for an .800 OPS, while walking 16 times against just 19 K’s.
What Johnson definitely provides is curveballs, curveballs and more curveballs. His hook has always been his top pitch, but he took its usage to another level after coming to Atlanta, throwing it more than 70 percent of the time in both 2024 and ‘25. His curveball rate was 72.1 percent in ‘25, putting him more than 20 percentage points ahead of any other MLB pitcher. Johnson combines his curve with a mid-90s four-seam fastball that he likes to throw up at the top of the zone and a cutter that he uses sparingly.
After last season, the Reds saw closer Emilio Pagán, righties Scott Barlow and Nick Martinez and lefty Brent Suter become free agents. In December, Cincinnati reunited with Pagán on a two-year, $20 million contract. A few weeks later, free agent left-hander Caleb Ferguson signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract.