By the Numbers: What Does $28,886,310 Mean to Atlanta Braves fans?
What I am about to tell you might make you a little mad.
But I am going to need for you to look at the bigger picture, take a step back and view the whole process, and not just the pieces.
The Atlanta Braves have thrown away $28,886,310 in contract dollars so far in 2015.
It’s gone. We can’t get it back.
This money equals the value of contracts for 5 players who are currently signed or were signed to the team and the Braves either released them or they have yet to wear the name on the #FrontOfTheJersey.
Those players and their contract values:
(
, just started
at the Spring Training complex, circumstances beyond team control) = $1,100,000
Jun 15, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Dan Uggla (26) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
As of today, the Atlanta Braves payroll is at $93,400,000 (baseball-reference.com figures).
The amounts above with these 5 players equal to 30.9% of our total payroll for 2015.
30 …. POINT …. 9 …. PERCENT!!!!!
Kind of makes you a little hot under the collar doesn’t it?
Cahill was slated to make $12Mil this season, the remaining salary was to come from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
If you add Cahill OR Dan Uggla, either one of them would have been the highest paid player on the club this year. Currently Nick Markakis tops that list at $11Mil, followed by newly acquired Bronson Arroyo at $9.5Mil (who may or may NOT not pitch this year) and Freddie Freeman at $8.5Mil.
So what could we buy with $28Mil?
As much as I would like to, I am not going down that ghost trail right now, maybe later.
Fact is, as it stands, the $28Mil from this season comes off our books THIS YEAR and looking ahead with future contract values staying as they are, we HAD to cut a few corners and tighten the wallet.
We have 4 players that will be arbitration eligible for 2016 (Mike Minor, Josh Outman, Shelby Miller and Luis Avilan).
At least 2 of the 4 should get a hefty pay increase from league minimum.
Our projected payroll for 2016 is $94.7Mil; that is adding in estimated Arbitration salaries, but NOT adding salaries for potential free agents to be Juan Uribe, A.J. Pierzynski, Jim Johnson and Kelly Johnson.
Luckily we are in very capable hands with a 37 season veteran of Atlanta Braves business, Chip Moore, Chief Financial Officer leading the way. Coupled with the slick business dealings of Chairman and CEO Terry McGuirk, President John Schuerholz, and the never ending midnight dealer President of Baseball Operations John Hart, we have the personnel in place to get things done.
I do NOT envy any of their jobs, but it is always fun to play fantasy manager.
This has to be a constant juggling act.
#BravesCountry salutes you all for the work that you do! Keep up the good work.