The Braves must acknowledge that their reunion with the popular favorite must cease.

Baseball business shouldn’t always be impeded by emotions.

In baseball, reunions don’t always end happily. At this year’s trade deadline, the Atlanta Braves took a chance by adding two former Braves to their roster. One side of the deal has prospered, but the other has not been able to rediscover his former charm. During his first Braves season (2017–2021), Luke Jackson made a name for himself as a reliable MLB reliever. Jackson pitched 254 innings during that span, recording a 3.93 ERA, 3.71 FIP, and 2.4 fWAR.

He was a trusted member of the “night shift” and a big part of the 2021 World Series team. However, Jackson’s 2024 results haven’t been the same. And given his recent run of poor performances it might be time for the Braves to move on.

Jackson’s season ERA skyrocketed to 5.93 when he surrendered the lead on Sunday afternoon. Furthermore, he has a FIP that is higher than 5. Jackson’s fWAR this season is -0.3, and to put it plainly, the team has better options. For the upcoming season, Jackson does have a $7 million club option, with a $2 million buyout should the Braves decline. Of course, his season totals and recent play don’t give you much reason to think the Braves will choose that option this offseason.

The situation is rather comparable to the Kirby Yates club option they had during the previous summer, which they naturally declined. If Jackson stays healthy enough to require the Braves to make that choice, only time will tell.