The Atlanta Braves seem pleased with player performances as they will bring back big parts of their 2012 team beginning with players who make up their battery as they exercised options for Tim Hudson, Paul Maholm and Brian McCann.
All in all, those contracts are worth $27.5 million. Maholm, their midseason acquisition, will be paid $6.5 million, Hudson will be paid $9 milllion and McCaan, the priciest, will get $12 million, according to Braves' beat writer Mark Bowman and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
For the Braves in 2013, this means they keep their two veteran pitchers on the club.
Hudson will be entering his 9th season with the Braves after being acquired via free agency in 2005. Following back issues at the start of the 2012 season, Hudson returned to give the Braves solid numbers going 16-7 in 28 starts with a 3.62 ERA,
Maholm was acquired via trade before the deadline. He went 4-5 in 11 starts with a 3.54 ERA.
Together, Hudson and Maholm will be the leaders of the pitching rotation, in relation to age and experience at least. The Braves have young guys like Mike Minor, Tommy Hanson, Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen in their pitching rotation.
As far as McCann goes, they will bring back one of the most reliable catchers in the majors.
He is a six-time All-Star in his eight years in the big leagues. Though his RBI numbers have been on the decline, the power has still be there.
It will be interesting to see if the Braves keep the catcher for the entire season or what they will do with him following the 2013 season.
He is only 28-yards old and there are plenty of teams who can use catching.
