Braves Make Qualifying Contract Offer to Pitcher Ervin Santana

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Atlanta Braves announced today that they have made a qualifying contract offer to right-handed pitcher Ervin Santana for the 2015 season. 

Santana, who turns 32 in December, joined the Braves in March and recently completed his 10th Major League season. He posted a 14-10 record with a 3.95 ERA in 31 starts for Atlanta in 2014. His 16 home runs allowed were a career low, while his 179 strikeouts ranked second on the club and was the second-best total of his career (214 in 2008). Santana's 14 victories tied right-hander Julio Teheran for the team lead.

Over 10 Major League seasons, including nine in the American League, Santana owns a record of 119-100 with a 4.17 ERA in 299 appearances (296 starts). He has logged at least 200 innings pitched in five of the last nine seasons and barely missed that mark this past season with 196 innings of work. Santana has posted an ERA of 3.88 over the last five campaigns (since 2010). His 1036.1 innings pitched from 2010 to 2014 ranked ninth in the majors, while his 99 quality starts ranked tied for 15th in that five-year span and his 159 starts ranked tied for 13th.

Santana was originally signed by the Anaheim Angels in 2000 as a non-drafted free agent. A 2008 A.L. All-Star, he tossed a no-hitter on July 27, 2011, at Cleveland while with the Angels.