2014 Atlanta Braves

[DonkeyJote]

Figured it was time to start this up.

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[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

So the Braves have locked up Hayward (2 yr, $13.3m) and Freeman (8 yr, $125). Freeman will be a Brave at least through his prime. Great signing.

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[KSUowls]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

Love the signing of Freeman. It's good to get one of these young core guys locked up, and I think it will play out being pretty cheap for the Braves at the end of the day.

[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

$16 mil a year when Freeman is 29 will be a steal

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[decga]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

Fellas loving what the Braves did today. Signing Heyward and Freeman to multi-year deals. This is the reason why they did not try to keep McCann or why I was hoping for. Give the money to the homegrown talent. One player is left! CP Craig Kimbrel! I hope they can reach at least a 4 year deal with him also... Go Braves Country!!!!

[LowerWolf]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

The SI article I read says the Braves overpaid. I'd say $16M a year for his prime years is pretty good.

[p_rushing]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

The SI article I read says the Braves overpaid. I'd say $16M a year for his prime years is pretty good.

Yes they overpaid. The problem is everyone in baseball overpays. If McCann can get what he got, Freeman was going to get a lot more. This deal also shouldn't force the Braves to overpay for him when he is getting old like many other teams have done.


If you didn't see it, Chipper had to come rescue Freeman last week after he was stuck out on the road during the storm. Chipper is tweeting about wanting some money for being his chauffeur. There are some funny pics and comments if you want to look up the story. Chipper showed up in full cameo on a 4 wheeler.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

Fellas loving what the Braves did today. Signing Heyward and Freeman to multi-year deals. This is the reason why they did not try to keep McCann or why I was hoping for. Give the money to the homegrown talent. One player is left! CP Craig Kimbrel! I hope they can reach at least a 4 year deal with him also... Go Braves Country!!!!

McCann was homegrown talent also.

And there isn't just one player left. Andy Simmons needs an extension as well, and I'm sure he'll get it before Kimbrel.

Hope Heyward can stay here long-term as well but I'm more convinced in Freeman's prospects as a player and as a "face" of the franchise. Heyward has a lot to prove this coming season.

[LowerWolf]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

In a world where B.J. gets $15M a year, $16M for Freeman seems like a bargain to me.

[decga]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

McCann was homegrown talent also.

And there isn't just one player left. Andy Simmons needs an extension as well, and I'm sure he'll get it before Kimbrel.

Hope Heyward can stay here long-term as well but I'm more convinced in Freeman's prospects as a player and as a "face" of the franchise. Heyward has a lot to prove this coming season.

You are right @ the Matrix. I forgot about Simmons, but they can go thru arbitration for a couple years with him.

[Sportsforever]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

Love the Freeman and Heyward signings. Freeman, I understand where the overpaid argument comes from, but I still like what we did. Freddie is the kind of player we need/want on our team and I think you can commit to him with the incremental development he has shown.

Heyward needs to show that he can stay healthy and reach his potential before you commit long term, which is what this contract lets them do.

I would love for them to offer Simmons something like a 7/63M deal and see if he bites. I think at the end of the day having him for $9M/year would be a steal.

Will be interesting to see what happens with Kimbrel…I have read that they may trade him for multiple prospects, but I have a hard time letting the best closer in the game leave in the prime of his career. My guess is Kimbrel gets paid and stays right where he is.

Excited for 2014…the Nats are going to be tough!

[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

Love the Freeman and Heyward signings. Freeman, I understand where the overpaid argument comes from, but I still like what we did. Freddie is the kind of player we need/want on our team and I think you can commit to him with the incremental development he has shown.

Heyward needs to show that he can stay healthy and reach his potential before you commit long term, which is what this contract lets them do.

I would love for them to offer Simmons something like a 7/63M deal and see if he bites. I think at the end of the day having him for $9M/year would be a steal.

Will be interesting to see what happens with Kimbrel…I have read that they may trade him for multiple prospects, but I have a hard time letting the best closer in the game leave in the prime of his career. My guess is Kimbrel gets paid and stays right where he is.

Excited for 2014…the Nats are going to be tough!

I don't understand where the overpaid argument comes from. Freeman was 4th in the league among 1B in WAR. He's only 24, and should continue to improve. And baseball has been infused with a lot of new money, and so $17 million doesn't mean what it used to. I mean, Hudson got $12 million. You don't think Freddie is worth considerably more than him at this point?

As far as Kimbrel, if I got a good deal, I'd take it. He's replaceable. Yes, he's the best. But the difference between him and Tanner Scheppers, the setup man for the Rangers, is about 1 win. I don't believe you should ever pay for a closer.

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[Sportsforever]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

I don't understand where the overpaid argument comes from. Freeman was 4th in the league among 1B in WAR. He's only 24, and should continue to improve. And baseball has been infused with a lot of new money, and so $17 million doesn't mean what it used to. I mean, Hudson got $12 million. You don't think Freddie is worth considerably more than him at this point?

As far as Kimbrel, if I got a good deal, I'd take it. He's replaceable. Yes, he's the best. But the difference between him and Tanner Scheppers, the setup man for the Rangers, is about 1 win. I don't believe you should ever pay for a closer.

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The overpaid talk comes from the fact Atlanta had leverage over Freeman for 3 more years (he wouldn't have been a FA until after 2016) and the most they could have been expected to pay him through arbitration would be around $10M (if he continued to play well). What that means is the Braves are essentially paying $21M/year over the last 5 years of the contract which is elite player money and a lot of people don't consider him elite.

I get that argument, but with the way baseball salaries are escalating if Freeman continues to play like he has $21M may be a steal by 2017.

[DonkeyJote]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

The overpaid talk comes from the fact Atlanta had leverage over Freeman for 3 more years (he wouldn't have been a FA until after 2016) and the most they could have been expected to pay him through arbitration would be around $10M (if he continued to play well). What that means is the Braves are essentially paying $21M/year over the last 5 years of the contract which is elite player money and a lot of people don't consider him elite.

I get that argument, but with the way baseball salaries are escalating if Freeman continues to play like he has $21M may be a steal by 2017.

Yeah, I'd be shocked if Freeman didn't continue to improve.

Plus, he is now the "face of the franchise." It's easier to take that role with the contract in hand. Plus, with the new ballpark, it's nice to have him locked up past that.

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[Jgainsey]

Re: 2014 Atlanta Braves

The overpaid talk comes from the fact Atlanta had leverage over Freeman for 3 more years (he wouldn't have been a FA until after 2016) and the most they could have been expected to pay him through arbitration would be around $10M (if he continued to play well). What that means is the Braves are essentially paying $21M/year over the last 5 years of the contract which is elite player money and a lot of people don't consider him elite.

I get that argument, but with the way baseball salaries are escalating if Freeman continues to play like he has $21M may be a steal by 2017.

The Braves are literally paying him roughly 21M the last 5 years of the contract. The next few years are structured as if he were getting arb type dollars. I'm sure this will be helpful as Freeman won't really start getting paid until the Braves are in their new park, and hopefully generating a little more revenue.

Regardless, using the leverage gained from arbitration isn't always in the best interest of a team with a middle of the pack payroll. Sure, you may save a few million here and there by leaving Freeman's salary in the hands of an arbiter for the next 3 years, but if he had continued playing well, Freeman would be the one with all the leverage come free agency.

Given the ever inflating FA market, you would then be looking at an average annual value that is higher than 21M, and a 27/28 year old that is looking for at least 7 or 8 years.

There is risk involved for the Braves in a deal like this, for sure, but if you're the GM of a team with a stagnant 90 million dollar payroll, these are the kind of risks that you have to take in order to hold onto top level talent.