On Saturday it seemed as though free agent Ervin Santana was headed to either the Toronto Blue Jays or the Baltimore Orioles. However with injuries to Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy in the last few days, the Atlanta Braves became desperate for pitching help. A late entrant into the mix, the Braves will sign Santana with an official announcement this morning. It is expected to be a one-year deal, though financial terms have not yet been announced.
The 31-year-old Santana posted a 3.24 ERA and 161/51 K/BB ratio over 211 innings last season. Limited run support kept him to a 9-10 record with the Royals. It is expected that he will get better support in Atlanta.
Medlen was expected to be the Braves ace and Opening Day starter. However reports indicate that he has suffered some sort of ligament damage in his elbow, and will be seeing Dr. James Andrews in the coming days. Anytime you hear the words ligament damage and Dr. James Andrews together, things don’t look good for that pitcher, at least in the short-term. Medlen has had Tommy John surgery before, and has told reports he expects to have another.
For Beachy, who left his most recent start with soreness in his forearm, things aren’t as clear. However, they are still concerning. Beachy is not that far removed from his own Tommy John surgery under Dr. James Andrews and his velocity has been down this spring.
With the Braves expected to contend in the National League, the loss of one or two starters for a significant period of time would be a major hit, and so to mitigate against it, they turned to the best free agent starter on the market. Clearly that player is Ervin Santana.
The deal will end a saga for the 31-year-old free agent right-hander. Interest has been tempered by the fact that the Royals offered him a one-year $14.1 million qualifying offer at the opening of free-agency. As a result any team signing Santana must give compensation. For the Braves that will mean a first round draft pick, (along with the accompanying rookie signing cap space).
However, with it being just a one-year deal, Santana may find himself in the same boat next year, with a one-year qualifying offer and seeking a job in free agency with draft pick compensation attached.
The move means that Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales are the only big name players on the free agent market at all. Drew, the Red Sox shortstop last season has indicated he is willing to move to second base if a team would like him to play there. Morales is seen as a first base/designated hitter option for a team looking for power.
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