While the Braves do not have a ton of high-profile players that are eligible, they have still been busy agreeing to deals with those who ARE eligible ahead of the Friday deadline to avoid arbitration hearings with those players. Earlier this offseason, the Braves locked in deals with Sam Freeman as well as Dan Winkler.
Today, the Braves rounded out the deals with a one-year deal with arguably their most high profile reliever.
The #Braves have agreed to terms with RHP Arodys Vizcaíno on a one-year, $3.4M contract for the 2018 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 12, 2018
MLB Trade Rumors had Arodys Vizcaino projected to get a $3.7 million deal this year in arbitration, so the deal he signed with the Braves does represent a slight discount in at least perceived industry value.
Vizcaino posted a 1.7 bWAR season in 2017 with a 2.83 ERA, 3.72 FIP, and 1.10 WHIP while striking out 64 and walking 21 batters in 57 1⁄3 inning (62 appearances). In his three seasons since rejoining the Braves organization, he has been a key component of the Braves bullpen although nagging injuries have limited him at times in his major league career.
With Vizcaino under contract, the Braves only have starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz left to try and get signed before Friday to avoid a hearing between the two sides. Folty is projected, again by MLB Trade Rumors, to receive $2.7 million in arbitration and just recently changed agents. There is no word how far apart the two sides are on a number for a contract in 2018 nor is there any reason to believe at this moment that there won’t be a resolution before the deadline, but it is a situation worth monitoring for the moment.