Tigers trade Joe Jimenez to Braves
The Detroit Tigers traded right-handed reliever Joe Jimenez to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor-league third baseman/outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and left-handed pitcher Jake Higginbotham, the teams announced Wednesday.
Jimenez, 30, posted a 3.49 ERA and 2.00 FIP over 56 2/3 innings, recording two saves and 77 strikeouts while making 62 appearances.
The former All-Star took a huge step forward this past season, leading the Tigers bullpen with 1.4 fWAR while authoring a 33.3% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate. Among relievers with at least 50 innings thrown, Jimenez's 27.7% strikeout-minus-walk rate ranked seventh in MLB.
He's entering his final year of arbitration before being eligible to hit free agency next winter.
Malloy, 22, hit .289/.408/.454 with 17 homers and five steals in 133 games across three minor-league levels this past season, finishing the year with Triple-A Gwinnett. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Higginbotham, 26, spent the entire 2022 campaign with Double-A Mississippi, posting a 4.73 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 51 1/3 innings and making 48 relief appearances.