The Braves signed reliever Sam Freeman to a one-year, $1.075 million contract Thursday, avoiding arbitration with the left-hander.

Freeman, 30, was eligible for arbitration for the first time after posting career-best statistics in 2017 with the Braves, his fourth team in four seasons. He was 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in 58 appearances and had 59 strikeouts, 27 walks and three homers allowed in 60 innings.

He was projected to make about $1.2 million if he’d gone to arbitration.

The move left three unsigned arbitration-eligible Braves: starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and relievers Arodys Vizcaino and Dan Winkler.

Major league teams will swap arbitration figures Friday with any remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible players, setting up February hearings if no agreement is reached before then.

The Braves, under new general manager Alex Anthopoulos, will continue to follow a policy of going to a hearing with any player who isn’t signed before arbitration figures are swapped, unless a player signs a multi-year deal before the scheduled hearing. Most teams follow a similar policy.

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Atlanta Braves first base Matt Olson (28) looks down at the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Truist Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Atlanta. 
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