Braves, Beachy avoid arbitration with one-year deal

ATLANTA -- Right-hander Brandon Beachy no longer has to worry about his 2014 salary being determined in an arbitration hearing.

On Monday, the Braves and Beachy -- eligible for arbitration for the first time -- avoided the process by agreeing to a one-year contract, the financial specifics of which were not revealed.

Beachy, 27, is aiming to begin the 2014 season in Atlanta's rotation and regain the success he had before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2012. He returned to make five starts this year before further discomfort in the elbow led to a "clean up" procedure in late September.

Earlier this month, Beachy said that he is on target to begin Spring Training without any restrictions. He regained full range of motion in the elbow by the end of October, and by late November, he was focusing on rebuilding his upper-body strength. Beachy's plan is to begin throwing in early January.

When Beachy was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery, he owned a Major League-best 2.00 ERA. He has gone 14-11 with a 3.23 ERA and compiled a 9.25 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate in his 46 career starts.

The Braves will spend the next month attempting to reach agreements with their remaining arbitration-eligible players -- Craig Kimbrel, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor, Freddie Freeman, Chris Johnson, Jason Heyward and Jordan Schafer.