Brandon Beachy
photo by Tim Evearitt
ATLANTA -- Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy were both non-tender candidates because of the uncertainty surrounding their respective futures. Neither will likely be ready to pitch in a Major League game before May. Then of course, there is reason to wonder how effective they might be while attempting to return from this surgical procedure for the second time in less than four years.
Before the 11:59 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday, Atlanta decided not to tender contracts to the two right-handers. The club also non-tendered righty Gus Schlosser.
The Braves have yet to officially make decisions about their remaining three arbitration-eligible players -- Mike Minor, David Carpenter and James Russell.
Minor and Carpenter stand as the only members of this group who will definitely be tendered a contract and consequently be positioned to have the 2015 salary determined by an arbitration hearing. As of Monday, the Braves were debating whether to extend an offer to Russell, a left-handed reliever, who proved much more effective against right-handed hitters after he was acquired from the Cubs on July 31..
Medlen made $5.8 million last season as a second-year arbitration-eligible player. Beachy was awarded a $1.45 million salary when he became arbitration eligible last year.
Medlen missed almost all of the 2011 season while recovering from the initial Tommy John surgery he underwent during the second half of the 2010 campaign. He dazzled down the stretch when he became a full-time starter late in the 2012 season and he continued to be a reliable rotation member in 2013. Clayton Kershaw and Medlen were the only Major League pitchers to compile a sub-2.50 ERA while making at least 40 starts from July 31, 2012 through the end of the 2013 season.
Minor, who has posted a 3.51 ERA over his past 72 starts, is expected to receive slightly more than $5 million through arbitration. Carpenter, who has shown the capability of being an effective setup man, will likely garner a salary just north of $1 million as a first-year, arbitration-eligible player.
Russell has been projected to receive just north of $2 million during his final arbitration-eligible season. The veteran lefty was certainly worthy of this value when he limited left-handed hitters to a .183 average and .221 on-base percentage in 2013. But last year, left-handers batted .284 and got on base at a .351 clip against Russell.
--- Source: Braves.com
Kris Medlen
photo by Tim Evearitt