KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves agreed Wednesday on a $14.1 million, one-year contract with Ervin Santana, bolstering their injury plagued starting rotation. The 33-year-old right-hander went 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA in 32 starts for the Kansas City Royals last season and should make a huge impact with the battered Braves, who are facing the prospect of losing Kris Medlen for the season and opening with Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor on the disabled list. Medlen, who had been announced as Atlantas opening-day starter, left a spring training outing Sunday after grabbing his right elbow. Initial tests showed ligament damage, and he will undergo further examination to determine if he needs surgery for the second time in less than four years. Medlen said hes already preparing himself to miss the entire season. Beachy left a start Monday because of continuing problems with his right elbow, and Minor has yet to pitch this spring because of a sore shoulder. "In light of what has happened over the past few days with our pitching staff, we felt it was incumbent on us to do everything we could to strengthen our starting pitching," Braves general manager Frank Wren told reporters before a game against Washington. Santana will be pitching in the NL for the first time in his 10-year career. He spent eight seasons with the Los Angeles Angels before being traded to the Royals in 2013, helping Kansas City post an 86-76 record, their best since 1989. But Santana, who made $13 million in the final year of his contract, turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer from the Royals and became a free agent. Given his hefty contract demands, he remained unsigned as spring training began, despite putting up some impressive career numbers. "This guy makes our rotation a lot better than where we are at now," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, praising Wren. "We lost Medlen and Beachy in a matter of 2 1/2 days and he went out there and got the best pitcher available for us." Santana threw a bullpen at the Braves spring training complex on Wednesday, which Gonzalez said went well. Despite his late entrance to camp, Santana could be ready for the start of the season. "It will be close," Gonzalez said. "We are kind of keeping our fingers crossed that we can get him enough innings where he can start for us." Santana was an AL All-Star in 2008, tossed a no-hitter in 2011, and has reached double-figure wins five times, going a career-best 17-10 in 2010 and twice winning 16 games. Overall, he is 105-90 with a 4.19 ERA. Santanas agent, Jay Alou, said he initially received a text from Wren on Sunday, then got another call Tuesday night while negotiating with other clubs. It didnt take long to reach an agreement with Atlanta, a deal that includes award bonuses. Its easy to see why the Braves felt a sense of desperation. Medlen went a team-leading 15-12 with a 3.11 ERA last season, while Minor was 13-9 with a 3.21 ERA. The team also was counting on a full recovery for Beachy, who was one of the NLs most effective pitchers in 2012 before he underwent season-ending elbow surgery. Beachy has been limited to a total of 18 starts over the past two seasons, enduring several setbacks in his attempt to come back. After his latest problem, he will miss his next scheduled spring start and faces another trip to the DL. Minor, who underwent urinary tract surgery on Dec. 31, hopes to pitch within the next week but also seems likely to start the season on the DL while he builds his arm strength. Given all the health issues, the Braves got to the go-ahead from corporate owner Liberty Media to bump the payroll well above the projected $100 million limit. Wren called it "an incredible decision by the organization." With opening day less than three weeks away, the only healthy members of the Braves possible rotation are second-year pitchers Julio Teheran (14-8 last season) and Alex Wood, rookie David Hale and non-roster invitee Freddy Garcia. Hale and Garcia have both struggled this spring. Atlanta also signed veteran Gavin Floyd, but he is coming off Tommy John surgery and wont be ready to pitch until at least May. Now, add Santana to the list, though it will likely be mid-April before he is prepared to join the rotation. He has been throwing on the side and could make his spring training debut next week. "We want to take the right amount of caution to get him ready right, and be ready for the long haul," Wren said. By signing Santana, the Braves forfeited their first-round pick in Junes amateur draft, No. 26 overall, and the Royals will receive a compensation-round selection, the 28th overall. Atlantas first pick is now 32nd overall, as compensation for losing free agent catcher Brian McCann, who signed with the New York Yankees. Santanas signing leaves only two free agents -- Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales -- available from the 13 players who turned down qualifying offers. If they agree to one-year contracts after opening day, they wouldnt be subject to qualifying offers this November. If they wait until after the draft to reach agreements, clubs that sign them wont lose selections. Among the 22 qualifying offers in the two years of the new labour contract, none have been accepted. "Frankly, the players havent adjusted to the change," New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said. "To blame the system versus the marketplace and blame the system versus a misunderstanding of the marketplace I think is a little one-sided. From a management standpoint, Id say, Hey, Im surprised if you guys havent taken a qualifying offer. Maybe they should have." 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Tony Romo Cowboys Jersey .com) - Novak Djokovic easily took care of Andy Murray to reach the final at the $2.Buffalo, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Zemgus Girgensons scored the winner in the shootout to lead the Buffalo Sabres in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. In the third round, Girgensons deked back to the forehand and lifted the puck into the left corner of the net. Michal Neuvirth preserved the win by not biting on Henrik Zetterbergs fake and making the stop. Brian Flynn and Chris Stewart scored in regulation for the Sabres, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Neuvirth stopped 36 shots in the win. Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and an assist and Tomas Tatar also lit the lamp for the Red Wings, who had a two-game winning streak stopped. Jimmy Howard finished the contest with 19 stops. Final Score: Carolina 3, Los Angeles 2 Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Elias Lindholm scored the deciding goal and the Carolina Hurricanes continued their recent winning ways with a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. Chris Terry and Lindholm each finished with a goal and an assist and Victor Rask tallied his first career goal for the Hurricanes, who were coming off their first win of the season against Arizona on Saturday. Cam Ward, who posted a 25-save shutout against the Coyotes, surrendered just two goals on 32 shots in the win. Mike Richards and Alec Martinez both lit the lamp and Jonathan Quick stopped 29 shots in Los Angeles fourth straight loss. Final Score: Calgary 6, Montreal 2 Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) - Rookie Josh Jooris scored twice and six Calgary Flames players had at least two points in a 6-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. Markus Granlund, Curtis Glencross, Lance Bouma and Mark Giordano also scored for the Flames, who returned the favor after losing 2-1 in a shootout to the Canadiens last Tuesday in Calgary. It was Montreals first loss in five home games this season. TJ Brodie had three assists for Calgary and Jiri Hudler and Johnny Gaudreau added a pair of helpers each to back 18 saves by Jonas Hiller. Max Pacioretty and Rene Bourque scored for the Canadiens, who have lost three of their last four (1-2-1). Carey Price gave up five goals on 35 shots. Final Score: Arizona 6, Washington 5 Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Tobias Rieder scored the game-winning goal in his NHL debut and the Arizona Coyotes held off a fierce Washington surge to snap a string of three straight losses with a 6-5 victory on Sunday. Shane Doan finished with two goals and an assist, Antoine Vermette supplied a goal and a helper and Sam Gagner and Mike Stone also scored for Arizona, which won its first road game of the season after starting out 0-4-1. Devan Dubnyk turned aside 32 shots in the win. Alex Ovechkin tallied a goal and three assists, Tom Wilson had a goal and aan assist and Nicklas Backstrom contributed with three helpers for the Capitals, who have been outscored 8-2 in the third period during this current four-game losing streak.dddddddddddd. Troy Brouwer, Joel Ward and John Carlson also scored, while Justin Peters allowed all six goals in defeat. Final Score: Anaheim 3, Colorado 2 Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Corey Perry netted his NHL-leading 11th goal of the season and the Anaheim Ducks held off the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Sunday night. Colorado led 2-1 heading into the second period, when Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm notched goals. Jason LaBarbera stopped five of his 16 shots in the third to preserve the win for Anaheim, which has won three of its last four games. LaBarbera, recalled from AHL Norfolk earlier in the day, started in net for the Ducks after a sudden lower-body injury to John Gibson during warmups left them in a pickle. Because their other goaltender, Frederik Andersen, is day-to-day with a leg injury, the Ducks turned to goaltending consultant Dwayne Roloson as their backup in an emergency substitution allowed under NHL rules. Roloson, 45, played 14 NHL seasons for six different teams, last taking the ice for Tampa Bay during the 2011-12 season. Nathan MacKinnon and Dennis Everberg tallied for the Avalanche, who have dropped four of their last five games. Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves in defeat. Final Score: Winnipeg 1, Chicago 0 Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Winnipeg Jets had some weekend to wrap up a four-game road trip. In two wins, they scored just one goal. 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