Kimbrel, Braves Agree to $42M, 4-Year Contract

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) – Closer Craig Kimbrel and the Atlanta Braves avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $42 million, four-year contract.

Kimbrel gets a $1 million signing bonus under Sunday’s deal and salaries of $7 million this year, $9 million in 2015, $11 million in 2016 and $13 million in 2017. The Braves have a $13 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout.

He also can earn a bonus of up to $3.5 million, payable at the end of the contract, based on a point system tied to All-Star appearances, MVP and Cy Yong voting and games finished.

Kimbrel saved 50 games with a 1.21 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 67 innings last year. In four seasons with the Braves, Kimbrel has 139 saves and a 1.39 ERA.