LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Braves strengthened their bullpen Wednesday by agreeing to terms with veteran free agent left-hander George Sherrill.

The deal, contingent on Sherrill passing a physical examination that will take place either later Thursday or Friday morning, is a one-year agreement for a base salary of $1.2 million with appearance bonuses that could earn Sherrill as much as $1.4 million.

Sherrill, 33, whittled the list of half-a-dozen or so interested clubs to three and chose Atlanta in the end partly because of the organization itself and partly because, as a Tennessee native, it will allow him to play close to home for the first time in his career after moving from Baltimore to Seattle to Los Angeles.

In 65 appearances for the Dodgers last season, Sherrill went 2-2 with a 6.69 ERA. The former closer for the Orioles has a 3.76 lifetime ERA with 56 saves in 389 career appearances.

Sherrill can begin earning a portion of his $200,000 in incentives with 60 appearances. He'll earn $50,000 at that benchmark, followed by $50,000 each for 65 appearances, 70 and 75.