Atlanta, GA – The Atlanta Braves agreed to one-year contracts with outfielder Jason Heyward and pitchers Kris Medlen, Jonny Venters, Eric O'Flaherty and Cristhian Martinez, thus avoiding arbitration with all five players.
Heyward, the 14th overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, batted .269 with a career-high 27 home runs and 82 RBI last season, his third in the big leagues.
Over three seasons in Atlanta, Heyward has hit .261 with 59 homers, 196 RBI and 41 stolen bases in 428 games.
Medlen started last season in the bullpen, but flourished as a starter late in the season, posting a 10-1 record with a 1.57 earned run average in 50 games, including 12 starts.
The 27-year-old right-hander has spent all four seasons with the Braves, compiling a 19-8 record with a 2.85 ERA in 120 games, including 30 starts.
Venters went 5-4 with a 3.22 ERA over 66 appearances last season, his third with Atlanta.
O'Flaherty pitched to a 3-0 record with a 1.73 ERA in 64 games, while Martinez went 5-4 with a 3.91 ERA in 54 games.
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