The Braves are poised to add to their bullpen depth with a pair of trades, acquiring right-hander Pierce Johnson from the Rockies and lefty Taylor Hearn from the Rangers, a source told MLB.com on Monday morning. Neither deal has been confirmed by any of the clubs involved.
Headed to the Rockies in exchange for Johnson are righties Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon, who both rank among the Braves’ top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. Vodnik ranks 10th, and Gordon is No. 26.
Johnson, 32, has a 6.00 ERA and 13 saves across 43 appearances this season but has posted a 3.27 ERA in his past 12 outings dating to June 21. The former first-round Draft pick has struck out 58 batters in 39 innings this season.
Hearn, who won’t become a free agent until after the 2025 season, still has Minor League options — flexibility that the Braves have sought ahead of the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline. The 28-year-old has a 10.29 ERA in four outings this season and a 5.11 ERA across 92 career appearances (25 starts) since 2019.
The Braves believe Johnson can return to the form he enjoyed with the Padres from 2021-21, when he posted a 3.09 ERA and had a 32.1% strikeout rate over 87 appearances. He has good power, swing-and-miss stuff from the right side and has a 4.11 ERA with a 38.7% strikeout rate away from Coors Field this year.
Although he has thrown just seven innings in the Majors this season, Hearn posted a 3.66 ERA over 39 1/3 innings for Triple-A Round Rock. He’ll give the Braves insurance if Dylan Lee doesn’t return to form once he is activated from the injured list.
