Kyle Kendrick lands minor-league deal with Braves

Kyle Kendrick, the veteran right-hander who started on Opening Day for the Colorado Rockies last season, agreed Thursday to a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves that includes an invitation to MLB spring training.

The 31-year-old will compete for a spot in Atlanta's largely inexperienced rotation this spring following a disappointing season in Colorado, where he fashioned a career-worst 6.32 ERA (74 ERA+) with a 1.53 WHIP in 27 starts. Kendrick will receive a base salary of $2 million if he makes the 25-man roster, with another $4 million to be earned in incentives, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Kendrick, who made his MLB debut with the Phillies in 2007 and spent the first eight years of his career in Philadelphia, owns a career 4.63 ERA (89 ERA+) with a 1.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 212 starts and 41 relief appearances.

Though he has made at least 25 starts in five of the last six seasons, Kendrick has the fourth-worst adjusted ERA (129 ERA-) and fourth-lowest strikeout rate (13.6 percent) among qualified starters since 2013.