Mike Minor triumphs over Atlanta Braves in arbitration case
By Brad Rowland
The 2014 season was a roller coaster ride in the worst possible way for Atlanta Braves left-hander Mike Minor. With that on the table, Minor triumphed over the organization in an arbitration battle on Friday, as the 27-year-old starting pitcher will earn $5.6 million for the 2015 season instead of the $5.1 million proposed by the Braves.
Mike Minor won his arbitration case vs. #Braves, will get $5.6 million stead of $5.1M they offered.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) February 20, 2015
In the grand scheme of things, Braves Country is not affected (in any way) by this announcement, but it is still noteworthy. First, the Braves have been notorious for always avoiding arbitration hearings. Second, it is pretty rare that a player would win a claim, especially on the heels of a “down” season.
Minor got off to a slow start, missing extended time due to offseason health issues, and he never seemed to fully recover. The left-hander finished the season with a 4.77 ERA (4.39 FIP, 3.90 xFIP) over 145.1 innings and 25 starts, and he took a step back in both strikeouts (7.43 per 9 innings) and walks (2.72 per 9 innings) while battling quality control issues.
Mike Minor, provided he isn’t traded in a sudden development, figures greatly in the plans for the 2015 Atlanta Braves, and the team’s fourth starter has a contract in place.