ATLANTA -- Braves pitcher Mike Minor got a positive jump-start to the 2015 season on Friday, winning his arbitration case and solidifying a one-year salary of $5.6 million, according to published reports.
The 27-year-old southpaw, who has logged 110 MLB starts since 2010 but won't hit unrestricted free agency for another three seasons (in the absence of a long-term deal), garnered the negotiating favor of an arbiter, despite posting a 6-12 record and 4.77 ERA in 2014.
The previous two seasons might have strengthened his overall case, though, as Minor collected 24 victories, 326 strikeouts and a 3.63 ERA from 2012-13, while serving as a durable cog in the Braves' rotation (62 starts in that span).
Minor also notched Atlanta's only playoff victory in the 2013 National League Division Series, stifling the Dodgers (one run allowed, five strikeouts) over 6.1 innings in Game 2.
As for the future, it'll be interesting to see how Minor (career marks: 38-26, 4.10 ERA, 566/187 K-BB rate) progresses in the Braves' restructured rotation, which now features three potential aces at the top -- Julio Teheran, Alex Wood and Shelby Miller, who was acquired in the Jason Heyward trade from November.
Teheran, Wood and Miller are all 24 years old and under "team control," salary-wise, for 15 combined seasons.
Plus, Atlanta was aggressive in restocking its farm system during the offseason, unloading established talents like Heyward, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis, among others, for touted pitching prospects like Mike Foltynewicz, Max Fried, Manny Banuelos and Tyrell Jenkins.
Minor's arbitration victory coincides with pitchers and catchers reporting to Braves camp in sunny Orlando (Walt Disney World complex).
The Tennessee native comes into this season fully healthy (unlike last year) and ready to improve upon his career splits for the month of April: 11-11, 4.33 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 59/17 K-BB rate.
