Braves To Sign Jeff Francoeur To Minor League Deal

[MadduxFanII]

Hey, if you had asked many Braves fans (thethe) back in 2005 if Francoeur would be our starting RF come 2016, the answer would have been a resounding "yes".

Thus proving Bill Shanks 100 percent right and all the naysayers 100 percent wrong.

 

[The Tariff King]

Thus proving Bill Shanks 100 percent right and all the naysayers 100 percent wrong.

Would YOU give Jeff Francouer a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training?!

 

[striker42]

I honestly don't see any issue with the signing. We're not signing him to start and hit cleanup. If he makes the team it'll be as a backup outfielder and a bat off the bench with pop. There's nothing wrong with that if he hits like last year.

 

[Julio3000]

I honestly don't see any issue with the signing. We're not signing him to start and hit cleanup. If he makes the team it'll be as a backup outfielder and a bat off the bench with pop. There's nothing wrong with that if he hits like last year.

We're one tweaked Markakis hamstring away from that scenario.

 

[thewupk]

I see we're continuing to undo all of Wren's transactions.

 

[50PoundHead]

I honestly don't see any issue with the signing. We're not signing him to start and hit cleanup. If he makes the team it'll be as a backup outfielder and a bat off the bench with pop. There's nothing wrong with that if he hits like last year.

I'm a bit surprised after his performance in Philly that he didn't generate more interest.

My guess is he's coming back to the organization to slide his way into a media position. Kind of a Steve Lyons wacky member of the broadcast team.

 

[UNCBlue012]

I'm a bit surprised after his performance in Philly that he didn't generate more interest.

My guess is he's coming back to the organization to slide his way into a media position. Kind of a Steve Lyons wacky member of the broadcast team.

Same here. He could be a great mentor and honestly, he hit a few bombs last year. He could be a great bench guy.

 

[zitothebrave]

I'm a bit surprised after his performance in Philly that he didn't generate more interest.

 

[Julio3000]

He would have been a middle-of-the-order hitter for the 2015 Braves after the deadline.

 

[50PoundHead]

zeets, Francoeur did alright last year. Only problem is that they played him too much. He's limited defensively, so he doesn't fit as a 4th OF, and admittedly he's probably through, but 13 HRs are 13 HRs. I don't see a place for him on our roster given his lack of flexibility. I've never been that big a Francoeur fan, but I've also never been able to fully understand the venom tossed his way.

 

[zitothebrave]

zeets, Francoeur did alright last year. Only problem is that they played him too much. He's limited defensively, so he doesn't fit as a 4th OF, and admittedly he's probably through, but 13 HRs are 13 HRs. I don't see a place for him on our roster given his lack of flexibility. I've never been that big a Francoeur fan, but I've also never been able to fully understand the venom tossed his way.

He was well below average offensively and terrible defensively.

 

[praeceps93]

Same here. He could be a great mentor and honestly, he hit a few bombs last year. He could be a great bench guy.

He was one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball last year. I'll take that on an essentially no-risk-moderate-reward signing.

 

[rico43]

My first thought is that this gives him a chance to retire as a Braves. Wait and see if that scenario doesn't unfold at the end of spring training when it becomes apparent there is no job for him.

 

[50PoundHead]

He was well below average offensively and terrible defensively.

Who is signing him to be a starter?

 

[zitothebrave]

Who is signing him to be a starter?

I would want replacement level value from my bench players, Francoeur hasn't posted a positive fWAR in 4 seasons. Maybe if we only used him as a PH/DH he could provide some value as not sucking as hard as Jonny Gomes did last year, but we basically just signed Jonny Gomes again. As he and Francoeur were pretty much equals last year.

 

[50PoundHead]

I would want replacement level value from my bench players, Francoeur hasn't posted a positive fWAR in 4 seasons. Maybe if we only used him as a PH/DH he could provide some value as not sucking as hard as Jonny Gomes did last year, but we basically just signed Jonny Gomes again. As he and Francoeur were pretty much equals last year.

And if that's the last guy on the bench, what's the big deal? I'm not lobbying for him, but it's not like he's a leper.

 

[Horsehide Harry]

People here are still building the team for THIS year. This signing is exactly what the Braves should have been doing all along, with more of it. Trade Markakis for best return, clear his payroll and play Jeff/Swisher out there in 2016. So what if the difference for 2016 is 3-4 WAR. What does that really mean anyway in 2016? Nothing. But Markakis' $22M over 17 and 18 could mean quite a bit.

 

[GovClintonTyree]

Word is that Francoeur will be taking a plane to ST because he refuses to walk.

Why should he? They don't put OBP on the scoreboard.

 

[jimsnores]

People here are still building the team for THIS year. This signing is exactly what the Braves should have been doing all along, with more of it. Trade Markakis for best return, clear his payroll and play Jeff/Swisher out there in 2016. So what if the difference for 2016 is 3-4 WAR. What does that really mean anyway in 2016? Nothing. But Markakis' $22M over 17 and 18 could mean quite a bit.

Makes sense, but I still hate tanking.

 

[Runnin]

This is ALL PR. The organization just needs more recognizable faces.