ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves avoided arbitration with five players Friday, including outfielder Jason Heyward and starting pitcher Kris Medlen.
Heyward agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.65 million after batting .269 with 27 homers, 82 RBIs and 21 stolen bases last season. Medlen settled for a $2.6 million contract, coming off a season in which he became the team's most dominant starter. He finished 10-1 with a 1.57 ERA and got the nod in the wild-card playoff against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Also agreeing to one-year deals were relievers Eric O'Flaherty ($4.32 million), Jonny Venters ($1.625 million) and Cristhian Martinez ($749,750).
The Braves failed to reach a deal with Martin Prado by the arbitration deadline. He is asking for $7.05 million, while the team countered with an offer of $6.65 million.
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