Braves Sign Players to New Contracts

ATLANTA (AP) - First baseman Mark Teixeira agreed to a 12.5

million dollar, one-year contract with the Braves today -- one of

four Atlanta players coming to terms rather than going through

arbitration.

Teixeira, who added power to the Braves lineup after being

acquired from Texas just before the trade deadline, received a big

raise over the nine million he made last season.

He batted .317 with 17 homers and 56 RBIs with Atlanta. Overall,

Teixeira had 30 homers, 105 RBIs and hit .306.

The more difficult negotiations with the slugger will come after

this season, when Teixeira is eligible for free agency.

The Braves also agreed to one-year deals with pitchers Mike

Gonzalez and Tyler Yates and infielder Omar Infante.

Gonzalez reached a deal for $2,362,500, basically the same

salary he played for last season ($2.35 million). The left-hander

pitched only 18 games in 2007, going 2-0 with two saves and a 1.59

ERA, before season-ending elbow surgery. He isn't expected to

return until around the All-Star break.

Infante, acquired from the Chicago Cubs during the winter

meetings to bolster Atlanta's infield depth, will play for $1.4

million this season, a raise of $100,000.

Yates got $800,000 after making $412,500 last season for the

Braves. He was 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA and two saves.

The signings left two players still facing arbitration hearings:

closer Rafael Soriano and outfielder Matt Diaz.