Morning Chop: Atlanta Braves News 3/12 Ervin Santana Style
By Jeff Schafer
Ervin Santana has arrived at ESPN's Wide World of Sports. #Braves
— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) March 12, 2014
#Braves have made a hard run at Ervin Santana, this could be announcement they've signed the free agent pitcher.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) March 12, 2014
Royals are right: Ervin Santana’s terms
The lingering criticism of an otherwise very solid Royals offseason is that right-hander Ervin Santana remains a free agent, available to the highest bidder, and a lot of fans have a hard time with the fact that the highest bidder almost certainly will not be the Royals.
The Royals won their most games since 1989 last year with the league’s best defense and ERA, which they achieved in no small part because Santana gave them 211 innings with a 3.24 ERA. Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy could each have terrific and long careers and never match those numbers in one season.
Industry insiders were generally split on the Jimenez-vs.-Santana debate going into the offseason, and Jimenez’s contract is basically identical to the one that right-hander Matt Garza signed with the Brewers. So if these deals are an indication of the remaining market, and provide a framework for Santana’s next contract, the Royals will look better for not joining the most serious bidders for Santana.
There are two simultaneous, somewhat conflicting truths here: 1) the Royals misread the market for Santana this offseason, and 2) even if they hadn’t signed Jason Vargas to a four-year, $32 million deal, they still probably would not go to four years and $50 million for Santana.
Braves say RHP Kris Medlen injured elbow ligament for second time
Braves pitcher Kris Medlen has injured a ligament in his right elbow for the second time in less than four years, and Atlanta says it is too early to determine the extent of the damage.
Medlen had an MRI on Monday that revealed the injury, according to general manager Frank Wren.
Wren said Tuesday the 28-year-old right-hander and the team will seek a second medical opinion.
“I talked to him and he seems like he’s in good spirits,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Medlen felt the injury on Sunday while pitching against the New York Mets. He grabbed the elbow with two outs in the fourth inning and left with a trainer.
Medlen tore his right ulnar collateral ligament while pitching against the Mets on Aug. 4, 2010, and was operated on by Dr. James Andrews that Aug. 18. Medlen didn’t pitch for the Braves again until Sept. 25 the following year.
He is expected to meet with Andrews this week.
Video: Paul Adams, VP of Ticket Sales, Atlanta Braves
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