The Ervin Santana saga is over. On Wednesday the right hander agreed to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves worth $14.1 million.
Santana, 31, had reportedly been seeking a contract of $100 million when free agency began but teams had been leery of signing him since he was tied to draft pick compensation.
A market began to develop for Santana in recent days and the Braves immediately became interested in him after both Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy left spring starts early.
Last season Santana played for the Kansas City Royals posting a 3.24 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 161/51 /BB ratio across 211 innings.
A choked-up Medlen said of TJ likehood, “Nothing’s official, but I think I know and just go from there.”
— David O’Brien (@ajcbraves) March 12, 2014
The Braves plan to have Santana throw a bullpen session and some live batting practice before placing him on the field for the first time. He should be ready to go by mid-April.
Medlen: Preparing for Tommy John surgery
As Satana joins the Braves, Kris Medlen is exiting.
On Wednesday, Medlen told reporters that while nothing is official he is preparing himself to undergo a second Tommy John surgery. Medlen left his start on Sunday with a forearm strain.
It is another tough break for Medlen who missed almost the entire 2011 season undergoing his first Tommy John surgery.
“His MRI showed injury to the ligament, but we don’t yet know the extent,” general manager Frank Wren said in a statement on Tuesday. “A diagnosis would be premature at this point. He will undergo further tests until we seek a second opinion. An MRI can sometimes be inconclusive when a player has had a previous Tommy John surgery.”
Medlen was 15-12 with a 3.11 ERA last year and was to take the ball on Opening Day.
The status of Brandon Beachy, who missed almost all of 2013, is still in question.
