Craig Kimbrel agrees to 4-year deal

— -- The Atlanta Braves have agreed to terms with Craig Kimbrel on a four-year contract worth $42 million, avoiding salary arbitration with the All-Star closer.

Kimbrel gets a $1 million signing bonus under Sunday's deal and salaries of $7 million this year, $9 million in 2015, $11 million in 2016 and $13 million in 2017.

The Braves have a $13 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. Kimbrel also can earn a bonus of up to $3.5 million, payable at the end of the contract, based on a point system tied to All-Star appearances, MVP and Cy Yong voting and games finished.

"We are very excited to agree to terms with Craig, who we feel is the best closer in Major League Baseball," Braves general manager Frank Wren said in a statement released by the team.

"He is one of the key pieces of our pitching staff and we are happy to keep him in a Braves uniform for at least four more years."

Kimbrel has been one of the majors' most dominant closers in recent years, leading the National League in saves in each of the past three seasons.

The 25-year-old Kimbrel posted a 1.21 ERA and led the majors with 50 saves last season, recording 98 strikeouts in 67 innings. In four seasons with the Braves, Kimbrel has 139 saves and a 1.39 ERA.

Kimbrel's deal is the latest in what has been a busy offseason for the Braves, who have prioritized signing their young players to long-term contracts.

The Braves already have signed first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Jason Heyward and starting pitcher Julio Teheran to new deals this offseason.

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark and The Associated Press contributed to this report.