ATLANTA -- The Braves and first baseman Casey Kotchman have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.885 million contract.

With Kotchman under contract, Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson stand as Atlanta's only unsigned arbitration players.

Kotchman, who combined to hit .272 with 14 homers and a .410 slugging percentage with the Braves and Angels last year, requested a $3.25 million salary and Atlanta offered $2.475 million before reaching this agreement.

The Braves remain confident that they'll be able to avoid an arbitration hearing with Johnson. They'd like to do the same with Francoeur, who is requesting $1.15 million more than their $2.8 million offer.

But as time passes, Francoeur's agents and the Braves realize there's a chance they'll have to determine the 25-year-old outfielder's 2009 salary during a scheduled hearing on Feb. 20.