Giles, Ramirez, Villareal and Sosa sign one-year contracts
The Braves avoided arbitration with 4 key players in mid-January when they signed Marcus Giles, Horacio Ramirez, Oscar Villareal and Jorge Sosa to 1-year contracts. Those signings saved the club from enduring arbitration hearings with any of their players. Giles signed for $2.35 million (a $1.5 million raise over his 2005 salary) after batting .291 with 15 homers, 45 doubles and 63 RBIs last year. Horacio Ramirez agreed to a $2.2 million salary for the 2006 season after making just $370,000 in 2005. He managed only a 11-9 record with a 4.63 ERA last season. Meanwhile, Jorge Sosa agreed to a $2.2 million contract with the team. As a starter last season, Sosa went 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA. He will be awarded a $50,000 bonus if he pitches at least 205 innings this year.
