Braves Sign R.A. Dickey to One-Year, $8 Million Deal

The Atlanta Braves signed right-handed starter R.A. Dickey to a one-year deal with a club option for the 2018 season, they announced Thursday morning. 

FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reported that Dickey earned $8 million in the agreement. He makes $7.5 million in base salary for 2017, while potentially earning an $8 million team option for 2018 that comes with a $500,000 buyout.

Atlanta had been looking for starting pitching on the free agent market. General manager John Coppolella told SB Nation's Chris Cotillo that the team may not be done looking for starters. 

"We will be looking for more rotation help," Coppolella said. "At least one and maybe two [starters]."

Dickey's choice of Atlanta was due to its proximity to his Nashville home, agent Bo McKinnis told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Atlanta's new park that opens in 2017, in particular, is 30 minutes closer to Dickey's home than their old one. 

This past season, Braves' starters posted the second-worst Wins Above Replacement (per FanGraphs) among all Major League staffs. In terms of run prevention, Atlanta ranked third-worst in team ERA from their starters with a 4.87 mark. 

Dickey, by no means, was a big splash for the Braves, but he should be able to provide some quality innings going forward.  

The 42-year-old Dickey spent 2016 with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 30 games (29 starts), the knuckleballer went 10-15 with a 4.46 ERA and a 126-63 strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.03 FIP; 4.76 xFIP) in 169 2/3 innings pitched. 

In parts of 14 Major League seasons, Dickey has a 4.01 ERA and a 2.25 K/BB ratio over 1,883 2/3 Major League innings. He won the 2012 National League Cy Young award while with the Mets but has spent the last four seasons with the Blue Jays. 

--Devan Fink

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