4/29 rubber game vs Phillies

[jpx7]

The “saddled by debt” note makes decisions like paying Bourjos $1 million for a single month of bench-play seem even head-scratchier.

[Enscheff]

The “saddled by debt” note makes decisions like paying Bourjos $1 million for a single month of bench-play seem even head-scratchier.

I scratch my head more about the Rosenthal comment than the addition of PB. Teams add $1M bench players all the time. Unless there is some odd accounting with debt from the new park going on, I don't see how the Braves could have any debt they wouldn't normally have.

Maybe the higher payrolls during the last couple years at Turner despite attendance figures of 2M are being carried over to now?

Either way, it's pretty safe to assume the Braves have close to zero money left for additions in 2018. Paying Mous $2M for 2 months may be the most they can afford.

[DirkPiggler]

And those numbers do not take into account framing skills, which would boost Flowers significantly.

Barring a return to pre-Braves production from Suzuki and/or Flowers, catcher is not a position that needs to be fixed. If we can upgrade for minimal cost, sure, but we'd be better off putting any available resources into 3B, the rotation, or the bullpen.

I thought the item being discussed was trading for Realmuto in-season.

RF would also be down the page in terms of positions on which I’d spend prospect capital to upgrade.

[jpx7]

I scratch my head more about the Rosenthal comment than the addition of PB. Teams add $1M bench players all the time. Unless there is some odd accounting with debt from the new park going on, I don't see how the Braves could have any debt they wouldn't normally have.

Maybe the higher payrolls during the last couple years at Turner despite attendance figures of 2M are being carried over to now?

Either way, it's pretty safe to assume the Braves have close to zero money left for additions in 2018. Paying Mous $2M for 2 months may be the most they can afford.

Sure: normal teams, occupying a normal range of fiscal positions, add, and even quickly subtract, $1M bench players all the time. But the Rosenthal quote seems to imply that there is something abnormal about the Braves' fiscal position, that they are facing a special amount of budgetary precarity at the moment. In that light, a frivolity like Bourjos seems odd. However, playing normally fast-&-loose with $1M bench players like Bourjos may simply be a good reason to discount Rosenthal's comment, and assume what debt the Braves do have is the sort of debt they'd normally have.

[thethe]

Debt service costs are always factored into future planning. This would not be a surprise to the Braves and therefore did not 'change' any plans.

What would change the plans is the potential revenue spike from being competitive a year sooner than anticipated. The additional gate could result in us being players at the deadline.

[Enscheff]

Debt service costs are always factored into future planning. This would not be a surprise to the Braves and therefore did not 'change' any plans.

What would change the plans is the potential revenue spike from being competitive a year sooner than anticipated. The additional gate could result in us being players at the deadline.

I have no doubt that if the Braves are in contention at the deadline they will add.

They can't possibly be too poor to add Mous and his $2M ROS salary, for example.

[jpx7]

What would change the plans is the potential revenue spike from being competitive a year sooner than anticipated. The additional gate could result in us being players at the deadline.

I have no doubt that if the Braves are in contention at the deadline they will add.

They can't possibly be too poor to add Mous and his $2M ROS salary, for example.

The other thing that could change the calculus is removing a salary. The only logical candidate here is really Teheran (substantial enough salary number, serviceable enough replacements); but it in entirely depends on his returning to health and to some of the improved form he displayed early on. I'm not holding my breath on either, though.

[thethe]

The other thing that could change the calculus is removing a salary. The only logical candidate here is really Teheran (substantial enough salary number, serviceable enough replacements); but it in entirely depends on his returning to health and to some of the improved form he displayed early on. I'm not holding my breath on either, though.

I've given up hope on unloading his salary in any form aside from attaching a valuable prospect. Not interested. I think by the end of the season Teheran will be pitching out of the pen.

[CyYoung31]

Ugh, I think I had repressed any memory of Pedro Ciriaco in a Braves uni.

And Ryan Lavarnway. I seem to remember some of us thinking he could be a diamond-in-the-rough because he showed some power in the minors. And, yes, I think I was one of him.

Not only could he not hit, he was an awful catcher.

[thethe]

Through the first 12 home games in comparison to last year Braves are averaging 34 more fans per game.

Thats a good sign IMO for two reasons:

1) Last year was inflated early on for the 'newness' of the park
2) This year the weather was not condusive to sitting down in an open space for a long period of time.



I'm looking forward to getting more information on this as the season wears on. Maybe the Braves can expect an attendance bump of 100K if we are competing for a WC.

[Southcack77]

Through the first 12 home games in comparison to last year Braves are averaging 34 more fans per game.

Thats a good sign IMO for two reasons:

1) Last year was inflated early on for the 'newness' of the park
2) This year the weather was not condusive to sitting down in an open space for a long period of time.



I'm looking forward to getting more information on this as the season wears on. Maybe the Braves can expect an attendance bump of 100K if we are competing for a WC.

I have a spreadsheet!

[Southcack77]

The “saddled by debt” note makes decisions like paying Bourjos $1 million for a single month of bench-play seem even head-scratchier.

Dumb question. If Bourjous re-signs will the Braves' obligation to him be offset by what his new team pays him or will he simply get his new salary on top of what the Braves pay him?

[Southcack77]

If the Braves are "saddled by debt" and aren't going to trade multiple prospects it's a little difficult to see how they are going to be particularly "aggressive" on the trade market.

Probably "creative" would be the better adjective I would imagine if both of those things are true.

[GovClintonTyree]

If the Braves are "saddled by debt" and aren't going to trade multiple prospects it's a little difficult to see how they are going to be particularly "aggressive" on the trade market.

Probably "creative" would be the better adjective I would imagine if both of those things are true.

Even if "saddled by debt" their economics should be good. They borrowed at a great time to borrow money. If they borrowed half a billion dollars to build the Battery and ballpark at 4%, debt service would be $20M. And I doubt the ballclub has to subsidize the rest of the development; they've told us it's the other way round. So maybe half that is baseball team responsibility.

That's not quite a Markakis of interest.

[Southcack77]

Even if "saddled by debt" their economics should be good. They borrowed at a great time to borrow money. If they borrowed half a billion dollars to build the Battery and ballpark at 4%, debt service would be $20M. And I doubt the ballclub has to subsidize the rest of the development; they've told us it's the other way round. So maybe half that is baseball team responsibility.

That's not quite a Markakis of interest.

In the interest of gathering information whether good, bad or indifferent here is something from Bowman's mailbag:

Are the Braves going to have a noticeably higher payroll next year?
-- @BravesAmerica

At this stage, it seems safe to say the Braves' payroll for the 2019 season will still rest between $120 million-$130 million. The only players under contract beyond this season are Freeman, Teheran and Inciarte, who will combine to make $38 million. Approximately $13 million more could go toward arbitration-eligible players (Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Foltynewicz, Sam Freeman and Dan Winkler). Then of course you have a number of players like Albies, Acuna and Swanson, who will all likely make less than $1 million as they wait to become arbitration-eligible.

When the Matt Kemp trade was made, I projected the Braves could have up to $80 million to spend this offseason. A team official later indicated the figure might be closer to $30 million-$50 million. More recently, I've heard the team will likely have at least $50 million to use as they peruse the upcoming offseason's talent-rich free-agent market and address multiple needs, which could include third base, catcher and right field.

How much money is available to spend will also be influenced by the success of the team's top prospects over the course of the season. Rotation needs will be better understood once the team gets a better feel for what can be expected from Sean Newcomb, Luiz Gohara, Foltynewicz, Soroka, Kyle Wright and Kolby Allard. Austin Riley's rise will determine whether third base is truly considered an area of need.


This is a little confusing. Bowman has them with maybe 55 million committed to next season and spending 50 million on the FA market.

In the same article as saying they will be between 120-130m in payroll.

With random comment about big debt from national beat writer who was on top of last dysfunction, I am concerned.

Maybe Bowman just miscalculated what they have committed. Or maybe the Braves are looking at extensions. Or maybe they are looking at a 100-110m payroll regardless of what their attendance looks like.

That's not going to go over well.

[nsacpi]

In the interest of gathering information whether good, bad or indifferent here is something from Bowman's mailbag:

Are the Braves going to have a noticeably higher payroll next year?
-- @BravesAmerica

At this stage, it seems safe to say the Braves' payroll for the 2019 season will still rest between $120 million-$130 million. The only players under contract beyond this season are Freeman, Teheran and Inciarte, who will combine to make $38 million. Approximately $13 million more could go toward arbitration-eligible players (Arodys Vizcaino, Mike Foltynewicz, Sam Freeman and Dan Winkler). Then of course you have a number of players like Albies, Acuna and Swanson, who will all likely make less than $1 million as they wait to become arbitration-eligible.

When the Matt Kemp trade was made, I projected the Braves could have up to $80 million to spend this offseason. A team official later indicated the figure might be closer to $30 million-$50 million. More recently, I've heard the team will likely have at least $50 million to use as they peruse the upcoming offseason's talent-rich free-agent market and address multiple needs, which could include third base, catcher and right field.

How much money is available to spend will also be influenced by the success of the team's top prospects over the course of the season. Rotation needs will be better understood once the team gets a better feel for what can be expected from Sean Newcomb, Luiz Gohara, Foltynewicz, Soroka, Kyle Wright and Kolby Allard. Austin Riley's rise will determine whether third base is truly considered an area of need.


This is a little confusing. Bowman has them with maybe 55 million committed to next season and spending 50 million on the FA market.

In the same article as saying they will be between 120-130m in payroll.

With random comment about big debt from national beat writer who was on top of last dysfunction, I am concerned.

Maybe Bowman just miscalculated what they have committed. Or maybe the Braves are looking at extensions. Or maybe they are looking at a 100-110m payroll regardless of what their attendance looks like.

That's not going to go over well.

They have about 55-60M minimum commitments...assume a 125M payroll...that leaves 65-70M to play with...needs likely to include catcher, third and bryce harper

[bravesfanMatt]

Dumb question. If Bourjous re-signs will the Braves' obligation to him be offset by what his new team pays him or will he simply get his new salary on top of what the Braves pay him?

should be less whatever he is signed for pro-rated to what they paid already.

[Southcack77]

They have about 55-60M minimum commitments...assume a 125M payroll...that leaves 65-70M to play with...needs likely to include catcher, third and bryce harper

And yet the Braves beat writer is saying he was told by the team that they would have 30-50 million after Kemp trade and that now officials are giving him the top end number of 50, but still that limited figure.

Somewhat concerning unless they have some extensions to roll out whenever they want.

[Southcack77]

should be less whatever he is signed for pro-rated to what they paid already.

So they may save a little bit of money by releasing him?

[bravesfanMatt]

So they may save a little bit of money by releasing him?

doubt he gets a MLB contract though