SAN DIEGO -- The Padres have settled with right-handed relief pitcher Carter Capps on a $987,500 salary for the 2017 season, thereby avoiding arbitration, according to multiple sources. The club has not confirmed the deal, which was first reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
San Diego acquired Capps as part of a trade that sent Andrew Cashner to the Marlins last July. The 26-year-old missed the entire 2016 season after elbow reconstruction surgery. Capps' $987,500 settlement will match his salary from last season.
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Capps underwent Tommy John surgery last March 8, but he has progressed quickly in his recovery and the Padres believe he could be fully healthy by Opening Day. San Diego plans to make Capps an integral part of its bullpen, though he has not been given a defined role.
With Brandon Maurer as the projected closer, Capps figures to be the Padres' primary right-handed setup man. When he's back to full health, Capps will likely share late-inning duties with southpaws Ryan Buchter and Brad Hand.
Capps owns a career 3.99 ERA over four Major League seasons, striking out 177 batters in 135 1/3 career innings. He burst onto the scene in 2015, posting a 1.16 ERA and a 16.8 K/9 rate over 31 innings, before his elbow flared up that August.