The Cincinnati Reds reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with free agent reliever Pierce Johnson over the weekend. The veteran right-hander had been part of the Atlanta Braves bullpen the past two seasons, and will likely take on the middle-relief role that belonged to Scott Barlow last season.
MLB.com senior writer Mark Feinsand was privy to the contract details, and revealed that Johnson's deal with the Reds guarantees him $6.5 million in 2026. While that amount is more than fair given Johnson's track record, it's a rather lofty sum for a team like the Reds who have no plans to increase their payroll from last season and were already at the upper-end of their spending limit.