Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - The Atlanta Braves finalized their four-year agreement with free-agent pitcher Derek Lowe on Thursday and introduced their new ace at a Friday morning press conference.

Financial terms were not announced but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Tuesday that the deal is worth $60 million.

Lowe immediately becomes the top starter in Atlanta's revamped rotation, signaling a new era to a Braves team that previously dominated with a pitching staff that included Cy Young winners Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and the recently-departed John Smoltz, who signed with Boston earlier this week.

"When you think about the Atlanta Braves, you think about starting pitching," Lowe said Friday. "That's what this organization has always been about.

"I really look forward to getting started. It's a division that's very competitive. We feel that we have every right to win this division. It's going to be a lot of fun."

The Braves have not been competitive in the NL East since their run of 14 straight division titles came to an end when the New York Mets won the crown in 2006. The Philadelphia Phillies have won it the past two years, and the Braves have finished no better than third with a pair of sub-.500 records in that span.

"As we've talked about all winter long, our primary focus was to rebuild our pitching staff," said Braves general manager Frank Wren. "I think this is one of the final steps in doing that."

With Smoltz and Glavine -- both injured in 2008 -- gone from last year's team that finished 72-90, the Braves went out this winter and traded for Javier Vazquez and also brought in Japanese import Kenshin Kawakami.

Jair Jurrjens led last year's staff with 13 wins and will be counted on to do even more this year, especially with veteran right-hander Tim Hudson expected to miss most of the 2009 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Lowe's signing not only gives the Braves the veteran starter they were looking for, but it also kept him away from the Mets and Phillies. New York had been negotiating with Lowe, but apparently would not give the 35-year-old the lengthy deal Atlanta offered.

Despite his age, Lowe has been a workhorse the past seven years. He has averaged 15 wins, 208 innings and nearly 34 starts during that span.

"It really gives us that top of the rotation starting pitcher that we were looking for all winter long," Wren added. "It was kind of the culmination of what we were working for all winter. So, we're just thrilled."

Lowe, who will be entering his 13th season, went 14-11 with a 3.24 earned run average last year, his fourth with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also made three postseason starts in October, posting a record of 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA and 12 strikeouts to only three walks.

In 533 games, including 255 starts, for Seattle, Boston and Los Angeles, Lowe has a career mark of 126-107 with 85 saves and a 3.75 ERA.

Lowe has also been solid in the postseason over the course of his career, going 5-5 with a save and a 3.33 ERA in 21 games (10 starts). However, he is 4-1 in his past eight playoff games.

During Boston's memorable 2004 World Series championship run, Lowe was 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA in four postseason games, with decisions in three series- clinching wins.