KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Atlanta Braves agreed Wednesday on a $14.1 million, one-year contract with right-hander Ervin Santana, bolstering their injury-plagued rotation.

A nine-year veteran, Santana already had received one-year offers from the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays along with a three-year offer from the Minnesota Twins, a source confirmed to ESPNdeportes' Enrique Rojas.

"It was a lot of waiting, but thank God I already have a team to play. Can't wait to play," Santana told ESPNdeportes.com.

"It was hard. I had a lot of patience, but my family and God are always right next to me, and that helped me."

Santana, 33, went 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA in 32 starts for the Kansas City Royals last season and should make an immediate impact with the battered Braves, who are facing the prospect of opening the season with Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor on the disabled list.

"In light of what has happened over the past few days with our pitching staff, we felt it was incumbent on us to do everything we could to strengthen our starting pitching," Braves general manager Frank Wren told reporters before a game against Washington.

Santana threw a bullpen at the Braves spring training complex on Wednesday, which manager Fredi Gonzalez said went well. Despite his late entrance to camp, Santana could be ready for the start of the season.

Medlen, who had been named Atlanta's Opening Day starter, left a spring training start on Sunday after grabbing his right elbow. Initial tests showed ligament damage, and he is undergoing further examination to determine whether he needs surgery for the second time in less than four years.

Beachy left a start Monday because of continuing problems with his right elbow, and Minor has yet to pitch this spring because of a sore shoulder.

Santana will be pitching in the National League for the first time in his 10-year career.