Ervin Santana to reportedly make Braves debut Wednesday vs. Mets

Ervin Santana's deal pushes the Braves’ payroll to about $110 million, approximately $20 million above where it was last year. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Braves pitcher Ervin Santana will make his season debut Wednesday in Atlanta against the New York Mets, according to Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports.

The debut comes after the 31-year-old inked a one-year, $14 million deal in March and was late to join the team for spring training. Santana was optioned last week to Triple A Gwinnett, where in his first start he yielded six runs in 5.1 innings.

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He established himself as a premier pitcher last season in Kansas City, tossing 211 innings and recording a 3.24 ERA. According to Gleeman, the Royals ultimately opted not to re-sign him because that would have required forfeiting a draft pick, and the team also reportedly had concerns about Santana's consistency. He recorded an ERA above .500 in 2002 and 2009.

The Braves tabbed Santana after their opening day starter, Kris Medlen, went down with ligament damage in his elbow and was set to undergo Tommy John surgery. Santana had also reportedly drawn interest from the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.

An All-Star in 2008, Santana threw at least 210 innings in three of his last four seasons and earned at least 30 starts in five of his last six. In July 2011, he pitched a no hitter against the Cleveland Indians.

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