Freeman, Kimbrel, Stanton, Brantley get steepest raises among 146 in salary arbitration

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel makes a throw to home during a spring training baseball workout, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (The Associated Press)

Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton pauses after running sprints with his teammates during spring training baseball practice, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Jupiter, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (The Associated Press)

TAMPA, Fla. – The average raise for a player in salary arbitration was 117 percent this year, according to a study by The Associated Press, led by steep hikes for Freddie Freeman, Craig Kimbrel, Giancarlo Stanton and Michael Brantley.

The 146 players who filed for arbitration averaged $3,859,912 under their new contracts, up from $1,778,081 under their previous deals. The average increase was just below the 119 percent increase last year.

Atlanta gave Freeman a 30-fold rise from $560,000 to an average of $16,875,000 as part of a $135 million, eight-year contract. The agreement with the first baseman is the largest in team history.

Kimbrel, the Braves' closer, received a 16-fold hike from $560,000 to an average of $10.5 million in a $42 million, four-year deal.

Stanton, a slugging outfielder with the Miami Marlins, got a 12-fold increase from $537,000 to $6.5 million.