Braves, Bud Norris agree to 1-year deal
The Atlanta Braves continued their offseason overhaul Wednesday, bolstering their rotation depth by signing veteran right-hander Bud Norris to a one-year deal reportedly worth $2.5 million, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Though the 30-year-old endured the worst season of his seven-year career in 2015, wherein he spent the final three months in the bullpen, Braves general manager John Coppolella confirmed Norris will return to a starting role this summer.
"We feel that he will be a valuable part of our starting rotation in 2016," Coppolella told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2006 draft, Norris made just three career relief appearances prior to last season, but lost his starting job with the Baltimore Orioles in June before being shipped to San Diego ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline. Norris, who made 20 relief appearances and no starts for the Padres, finished the season with a career-worst 6.72 ERA (61 ERA+) with a 1.58 WHIP in 83 innings, his fewest since his 2009 rookie campaign.
2015 Splits
Split | IP | ERA | wOBA | K% | HR/9 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starter | 55.2 | 6.79 | .393 | 15.4% | 1.78 |
Reliever | 27.1 | 6.59 | .361 | 26% | 1.32 |
Despite his struggles last season, Norris crafted a 4.23 ERA with a 2.35 strikeout-to-walk ratio prior to 2015 and will likely be expected to log a high volume of innings as a member of Atlanta's largely inexperienced rotation.
Projected 2016 rotation
Pitcher | Age |
---|---|
Shelby Miller | 25.1 |
Julio Teheran | 24.8 |
Matt Wisler | 23.2 |
Manny Bañuelos | 24.7 |
Bud Norris | 30.7 |
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