Braves reliever Shane Greene will make $6.25 million this season after losing arbitration against the club, the AJC confirmed Wednesday.
Greene, 31, requested $6.75 million. He was the Braves’ only eligible player to go to arbitration and the first MLB player to complete the process this cycle.
The new salary is still a sizable raise from Greene’s $4 million collected last season. He’s eligible for free agency next offseason.
After earning an All-Star nod for the Tigers – Greene posted a 1.18 ERA with 22 saves in 38 games – the Braves acquired the right-hander at the trade deadline. He struggled in the early going, even losing closer duties to fellow newcomer Mark Melancon, but settled in down the stretch.
Greene finished with a 4.01 ERA in 27 games for the Braves. There was speculation the team could opt to non-tender him because of its lofty financial commitments to the bullpen, but the Braves quickly shot down those suggestions, declaring Greene an important part of their 2020 plans.
In retaining Greene, Chris Martin and Darren O’Day, along with signing All-Star Will Smith, the Braves believe they’ve made their bullpen a strength.
The trial marked the first time the Braves went to arbitration since the club defeated Mike Foltynewicz in February 2018.
