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UPDATE: Jon Heyman has the yearly breakdown.
Kimbrel breakdown: $1M sign bonus, $7M salary in '14, $9M in '15, $11M in '16, $13M in '17. $13M option in '18/$1M buyout
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) February 16, 2014
The Braves and Craig Kimbrel have agreed to a four year deal with a club option for a fifth year.
As Kimbrel will play this season as a 26-year-old now, it locks him up potentially through age 30. The top closer in the game will be a Brave into the new stadium, which is definitely great news.
According to Mark Bowman, the deal is for four years and $42 million, with a maximum of five years and $58 million.
Kimbrel's deal is guaranteed to be for four years and $42 million. Potential Max value is five years and $58 million.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 16, 2014
I am surprised the two sides were able to agree on a deal. I can only imagine how difficult the negotiations must been with this being such an unprecedented case.
Kimbrel and his camp asked for $9 million in arbitration, so the fact that they settled for around $11 million a year makes me think they expected to lose in arbitration.
Hopefully this means J.R. Graham is given every opportunity to start. Maybe he ends up being a set up man, but he is clearly no longer an heir to the ninth inning. More to come...
