Atlanta Braves do well on arbitration exchange day…win or lose
Three of the four remaining cases were settled on Friday, though even in the fourth Atlanta stands to do well for the season… even if the arbitration trial ultimately goes against them.
The numbers are mostly in, and the Atlanta Braves have emerged with what has to be considered a successful arbitration season.
In total, 5 Braves’ players had filed for arbitration during the off-season. Today’s figure-exchange deadline was the last chance for them to negotiate before having an arbiter panel decide whose salary request to honor.
Here’s the summary:
- Rex Brothers, 2nd year, $1.1 million
- Chase Whitley, 1st year, $800,000
- Dan Winkler, 1st year, $610,000
- Sam Freeman, 2nd year, $1.075 million
- Arodys Vizcaino, 3rd year, $3.4 million
- Mike Foltynewicz… he’s the one that couldn’t get an agreement with the team.
The figures exchanged between the parties were almost surprisingly close: $2.2 million for the Braves and $2.3 million for Folty. Over $100,000 apart.
Still, this follows a trend that you’d have to suggest was really good for Atlanta this off-season.
Runaway Models
The only publicly-available model for estimating arbitration salaries is the one provided via the MLBTradeRumors.com site. Their list, released in early October (timed roughly for the point at which the Nats are no longer playing each year), provides a great help in guessing where team payrolls could land.
As such, the Braves did very well – and that will remain the case whether Foltynewicz wins or loses his case. Here are the differentials between the MLBTR tool and reality:
- Brothers (was not included)
- Whitley, -$200,000
- Winkler, -$190,000
- Freeman, -$125,000
- Vizcaino, -$300,000
- Foltynewicz, -$400,000 (possibly $500K)
In other words, the Braves appear to have saved money on everybody… a total of at least $1.215 million… which is actually more than they will be individually paying 4 different guys on that list.
Heck, the way this off-season has gone, that actually qualifies as some of the best news we’ve heard.
More Figures
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Next year, we’ll add 2 more names for 1st-time arbitration eligible players: Charlie Culberson and Jose Ramirez.
My estimate for the Braves’ Opening Day payroll has now been adjusted as well:
- 25-man roster: $95,506,666
- Active roster plus 1 DL player: $96,051,666
- Above, plus all dead money and deferrals: $114,301,666
That should still leave quite a bit of maneuvering room for Alex Anthopoulos, whether that’s for now, later, or next off-season.
Either way, while a relatively minor thing, saving money is a good thing.