Brave’s suspends star indefinitely for violation of league’s substance abuse policy’..

One of the remarkable things about the Atlanta Braves is that none of their players signed long-term has a salary of more than $22 million. But for the right starting pitcher in free agency, the Braves are willing to go higher.

The $22 million figure is not an actual ceiling, but merely the peak number the Braves settled upon in their extensions for Matt Olson and Austin Riley, according to sources briefed on the team’s plans who are not authorized to speak publicly.

The Braves offered Freddie Freeman a higher salary when he was a free agent during the 2021-22 offseason — $28 million annually over a five-year term. Freeman instead agreed to a six-year deal with the Dodgers worth $27 million per season, with considerable deferrals.

Joining a perennial pennant contender will work wonders for Jarred Kelenik, according to Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker.

“It will be good for me to get into our group,” said Snitker during a media conference at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville. “I haven’t seen him play but I know how talented he is from people I’ve talked to about him. And he’s still just 24.”

Once considered one of baseball’s top prospects, Kelenik was the cornerstone of a five-man trade between the Braves and Seattle Mariners earlier this week. He’s expected to become Atlanta’s regular left-fielder, perhaps in a platoon with right-handed hitter Vaughn Grissom, who hit .330 at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Grissom, a former middle infielder, has volunteered to learn left field in the Puerto Rican Winter League, which opens its season in a few days.

“I love our team,” Snitker said of the club that led the majors with 104 wins and a record-tying 307 home runs, “but you can always make changes that will benefit the ballclub.”