Braves Sign Ervin Santana

Ervin Santana now has a home, and her name is Atlanta.

The Atlanta Braves have officially announced the singing of Ervin Santana to a one year contract, and introduced him at their spring training complex.

Ervin Santana will reportedly earn $14.1MM (the exact amount that he turned down from a qualifying offer from Kansas City earlier this offseason), and will wear the number 30. The signing costs the Braves the number 26 pick in the draft, now moving their first round pick to 32nd (compensation for the departing Brian McCann).

The news is an obvious knee jerk reaction to injuries to both Kris Medlen (who says he will need a second Tommy John surgery) and Brandon Beachy, and is notable for putting the Braves at a payroll of $115.25MM (via our own Alan Carpenter), their highest payroll ever (via Cots Baseball Contracts).

Frank Wren had this to say about the signing:

After a dominant year in Kansas City, Santana was sure to land a major contract, but being tied to draft pick compensation soon hurt his stock, and afterwards caused a major representation shakeup. Santana soon set his sights on signing a one year deal with a team in hopes to try again next offseason. He was reportedly weighing similar offers from both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles.

For Ervin Santana, it’s an interesting move, given that the Braves are sure to be a major contender, and likely will ride the year out with him, instead of potentially trading him midseason, making a qualifying offer impossible to make. Of course, another good year in the National League and a potential World Series run may be the exposure he needs to sign a big deal next offseason.

Santana is slated to throw his first bullpen session today, and will throw at least one live batting practice before his first game, and is slated to be ready by mid April.