Two former White Sox pitchers have inked new deals.
The Braves announced in a press release on Saturday that pitchers Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo López have reworked their contracts. The multiyear signings come after both players turned in impressive 2024 campaigns, while also creating more financial flexibility for Atlanta heading into 2025.
The Atlanta Braves today signed LHP Aaron Bummer to a two-year contract worth $13 million, with the left-hander set to make $3.5 million in 2025 and $9.5 million in 2026. The club also signed RHP Reynaldo López to a three-year contract, with the right-hander slated to earn $8 million in 2025, $14 million in 2026, and $8 million in 2027. López originally signed a three-year contract with Atlanta last November that included a club option for the 2027 season. Both players have agreed to donate 1% of their respective salaries to the Atlanta Braves Foundation
López was one of the key pieces of the first White Sox rebuild, coming to Chicago along with Lucas Giolito and Dane Dunning in the trade for Adam Eaton. During his time on the South Side, López started as a starter but moved to a relief role by the 2022 season. He turned in a solid performance that year, pitching to a 2.76 ERA across 65.1 innings, though results were more mixed in 2023. During the latter campaign, López had a 4.29 ERA in 42 innings, with his walks jumping to a concerning 12.4% rate.
He was then traded with Lucas Giolito to the Angels ahead of the 2023 deadline, appeared with the Guardians in 12 games after getting claimed off waivers, and then signed a three-year, $26 million deal with the Braves last offseason. That signing paid off in a big way in 2024, as López notched All-Star honors and posted the best season of his career
Making his return to the starting rotation, López exceeded all expectations with a 1.99 ERA while totaling 135.2 innings over 26 appearances (25 starts). It was the most innings pitched for the 30-year-old since 2019, where he totaled 184 frames. It should set up his workload nicely for a nice bump in innings next season and beyond.
With the revised deal, López has agreed to take $3 million less next season after his original deal called for $14 million in 2026. In exchange, the Braves turned his $8 million club option into guaranteed money for 2027.
Bummer, who spent the first seven years of his career with the White Sox, was coming off a rough but unlucky season before he was notoriously traded away for five players last year. The now 31-year-old posted a 6.79 ERA with a 3.58 FIP and just four home runs allowed in 58.1 innings pitched during that 2023 campaign. His strikeout rate at 12.03 K/9 was the second-highest of his career, though his walk rate of 5.55 BB/9 was also the highest it’s ever been.
The southpaw found success in primarily low-leverage situations this season. Bummer went 4-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 56 appearances with the Braves, striking out 69 and walking 18 in 55.1 innings. It remains to be seen if the 31-year-old reliever will be tested in some additional higher-leverage roles moving forward.
In his previous deal, Bummer possessed club options for 2025 and 2026, both valued at $7.25 million with $1.25 million buyouts attached. Under his new deal, albeit slightly less than if both options were picked up, Bummer now has $13 million guaranteed to take the pressure off any future injuries or a decline in performance hurting his value.
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Featured Photo: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
