Reliever Freeman, Braves avoid arb hearing

ATLANTA -- Left-handed reliever Sam Freeman and the Braves avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal that was announced by the team on Thursday night.
Freeman agreed to a one-year, $1.075 million deal. Also arbitration-eligible were righty relievers Arodys Vizcaíno and Dan Winkler, who agreed to deals Friday, and right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, who appears headed for an arbitration hearing. All Major League teams had to exchange arbitration numbers with any arb-eligible players who remain unsigned as of 1 p.m. ET on Friday.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos will extend the club's status as a file-and-trial club. With this policy in place, any arb-eligible player who remains unsigned as of Friday afternoon will almost certainly have his 2018 salary determined by an arbitration hearing, barring the possibility that the two parties are willing to discuss a multiyear deal.
After spending most of the 2016 season in the Brewers' Minor League system and opening last season with Triple-A Gwinnett, Freeman enjoyed a resurgence and once again proved he could be effective at the Major League level. The 30-year-old southpaw constructed a 2.55 ERA as he recorded 59 strikeouts and issued 27 walks over 60 innings (58 appearances).
Freeman produced a 2.74 ERA as he combined to make 111 appearances while pitching for the Cardinals and Rangers from 2013-15. He is projected to once again serve as a key middle-relief option for the Braves this year.