The Padres on Friday avoided salary arbitration with right-hander Brandon Maurer, agreeing to a $1.9 million deal for the 2017 season. The club also struck one-year agreements with left-handers Christian Friedrich ($1.79 million) and Brad Hand ($1.375 million).
Maurer is in his first year of arbitration eligibility. He made $526,400 in 2016 and was projected to earn $1.7 million by MLBTradeRumors.com’s predictive model.
The 26-year-old struggled early last season before settling down and assuming the Padres’ closer role after the June trade of Fernando Rodney. In 71 games, Maurer posted a 4.52 ERA and converted 13 of 19 saves while averaging 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He will enter this spring as a candidate to resume his late-game role.
Friedrich and Hand also were arbitration-eligible for the first time.
Friedrich, 29, made $512,500 last season, when he went 5-12 with a 4.80 ERA in 24 games (23 starts). A likely name for the Padres’ rotation, he was projected to earn $2 million this year.
Hand, 26, made $520,000 last season while leading the majors with 82 appearances, all in relief. After going 4-4 with a 2.92 ERA, he figures to again occupy a late-inning slot in 2017. He was projected to earn $1.4 million.
The Padres on Wednesday agreed to a $987,500 deal with another arbitration-eligible pitcher, right-hander Carter Capps.
