Martin Prado
photo by Tim Evearitt
ATLANTA -- Martin Prado and Jair Jurrjens have both landed the first seven-digit salaries of their young careers, and the Braves have the satisfaction of knowing they are done dealing with arbitration-eligible players this year.
Prado's significant raise certainly was expected. On the way to earning his first All-Star selection in 2010, he hit .307, with career highs in homers (15) and RBIs (66).
Since the start of the 2009 season, Prado ranks fifth among all National League players in batting average and third in doubles with 78, a figure only bettered by Albert Pujols and Ryan Braun.
Jurrjens' raise had more to do with what he had done during his first two big league seasons. While battling numerous injuries last year, he went 7-6 with a 4.64 ERA. But since the start of 2008, the 24-year-old right-hander ranks 12th among NL hurlers with a 3.45 ERA. The 2.60 ERA he posted in 2009 stood as the NL's third-best mark.
Prado will earn $3.1 million this upcoming season, and Jurrjens will collect $3.25 million with his one-year deal. This year marked the first time they were eligible to apply to have their respective salaries determined by the arbitration process. Their salaries during the 2010 season were below $500,000.
Peter Moylan will see his $1.15 million salary rise to $2 million for the upcoming season. The durable right-handed reliever has made at least 80 appearances during three of the past four seasons. The other season was interrupted after just seven appearances by Tommy John surgery.
Eric O'Flaherty, who is also entering his first arbitration-eligible season, will see his salary double from $440,000 to $895,000 this year. The left-handed reliever missed most of the second half of 2010 while dealing with the lingering effects of mononucleosis.
_________
Source: MLB.com
Jair Jurrjens
photo by Tim Evearitt