The problem is... I'm not nearly as confident in the return for pitching assets as I was a month ago. Everyone knows that I think the return for Wood was dreadful... and I'd guess he had more trade value than any other pitcher, except maybe Shelby
The problem is... I'm not nearly as confident in the return for pitching assets as I was a month ago. Everyone knows that I think the return for Wood was dreadful... and I'd guess he had more trade value than any other pitcher, except maybe Shelby
Braves1976 (08-17-2015), Dalyn (08-17-2015), sturg33 (08-17-2015)
Braves1976 (08-17-2015)
certain posters on the board are quite sensitive!
Nobody knows beyond semi-reasonable deduction, which would seem to indicate that the Braves possessed payroll flexibility in 2015 that they haven't yet taken full advantage of, and it would seem to follow that as the team prepares to light the fuse on the grandiose fireworks show that will be _2017: A Braves Odyssey_ that same level of financial liberty still exists.
I would love to see the teams books especially as it relates to their spending at Cobb and (presumably) decreased 2015 Ted revenues. Those are two factors none of us have really properly considered.
Attendance is down over 3,000 per game. I would guess that means revenue is down over $100,000 per game. Over an 81 game home season, the decline in revenue from attendance must be around 10M.
Hawk (08-17-2015)
Also would need to factor, to some degree, advertising buys and revenue sources beyond gate receipts (concessions/parking/merchandise sales etc.)
Obviously, they would have calculated for this on multiple levels, but there's always the element of unpredictability.
And then, still, the looming possibility of cost overruns in Cobb which seems likely given the haste in which the project has been executed. IIRC (and there's a strong chance I am very wrong) the Braves are responsible for those.
They have never Quite said they won't spend on FA. They have made some broad statements about the dangers of signing FA but have stopped short of saying that they absolutely WON'T participate.
But, even if they did say that, so what? They may choose to use every means available to keep the market guessing and change on a dime.
nsacpi (08-17-2015)
I can't find the article at the moment, but the AJC had something in recent weeks on the Braves revenue being down 14% for the first half of 2015 (when compared to the first half of 2014). Part of the decline was related to fewer home games when the two time periods were measured, so that will level out by end or year. So we should expect a ~10-12% revenue decrease for 2015 if trends hold. Unclear, of course, how that will impact profitability or 2016 payroll.
Add Ozuna to the list of plausible potential OF targets. Marlins need pitching, and the Braves certainly have it. I would hate to see someone like Teheran or Folty or Wisler pitching for the Fish for the next 10 years, but Ozuna is cheap so the Braves could afford to buy a FA or 2 for the rotation.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/0...candidate.html