Braves' Mike Foltynewicz loses arbitration case, but welcomes newborn son
Mark Feb. 10, 2018 down as a day that Mike Foltynewicz won't soon forget.
While the Braves reportedly won their salary arbitration with the right-hander Saturday -- in what was the smallest gap in a hearing in 24 years -- he and his wife also announced the birth of baby Michael Jett.
As first reported by FanRag's Jon Heyman, the arbitrator sided with the team over Foltynewicz, who will make $2.2 million instead of the $2.3 million he requested.
The $100,000 gap was the smallest since 1994 when Kevin Maas requested $490,000 from the Yankees, but was instead granted $425,000.
https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/962450455921086469
Foltynewicz was just the fourth Atlanta player since 2001 to go to a hearing, following Andruw Jones, Kevin Millwood and John Rocker in 2001 and Mike Minor in '15.
The Braves lost their last hearing when Minor was awarded $5.6 million after the team offered $3.85 million, and in 2001 Jones was given $8.2 million rather than the team’s $6.4 million offer. In 1996, Steve Avery won his case, getting $2.8 million. But they won against Millwood — $3.1 million instead of the $3.9 million he sought — and Rocker, who drew $1.9 million after seeking $2.98 million.
But the results are likely secondary to Foltynewicz, who posted on Instagram "We can’t wait to have him meet everyone! Love you with all my heart little buddy!"
https://www.instagram.com/p/BfB5JkPAPMS/?taken-by=folty25
Foltynewicz 26, was the Braves’ most valuable pitcher last season with a 1.8 fWAR in posting a 4.79 ERA and 4.33 FIP, but his year was defined by inconsistency. He went 17 games from April 7-July 6 with a 3.77 ERA, but August included three outings with six runs or more.
He came three outs from a no-hitter against the Athletics on June 30, but he’s also the same pitcher who had a .362 wOBA in the second half of ’17 compared to .327 in the first half and who went from 10.17 K/9 in August to 7.16 in September.
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook. His books, 'Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Braves Stories Ever Told,' and 'The Heisman Trophy: The Story of an American Icon and Its Winners.' are now available.
