A little while back, I read this article about baseball payrolls, and one of the interesting things it pointed out was this little tidbit:
- In 2001, the Atlanta Braves payroll was roughly $90 million dollars ($91,936,167), and was #1 in the National League and #3 overall in Major League Baseball.
- Going into 2014, the Atlanta Braves payroll is estimated at roughly $90 million dollars, and ranks #8 in the National League and #15 overall in Major League Baseball.
Considering the cost of a Coke bottle has nearly doubled and the cost of a gallon of unleaded has nearly quadrupled since 2001, it’s pretty clear that the almighty dollar isn’t what it used to be these days. As anyone can see, spending roughly the same amount as they did back in 2001 no longer makes them the biggest spenders in the league, but pretty much, smack dab in the middle.
Needless to say, the Atlanta Braves are a far cry from the days of Ted Turner flamboyantly spending his money for the world to see him amass top-tier free agent talent for the Braves, and that the team’s corporate conglomerate ownership and management that seems to have staunchly agreed that the $90 million mark seems sufficiently adequate at being able to compete, even with teams spending over 30%, 50% and in the case of the Los Angeles Dodgers and their estimated $216 million payroll, well over 100% more than they do.
That being said, it’s become a pretty well-known fact that the Braves are a team that isn’t known for spending money now, and that they’re now an organization that relies heavily upon their minor league system, and that they are scouting, drafting and developing the right players to produce the biggest bangs for the least amount of bucks. They are, by all modus operandi and financial standing, a mid-market organization now.
Not to say the Braves never sign free-agents; sure, they’ve have had their share of free agent whiffs as every team has, but the general reputation is that blockbuster, seven-figure, multi-year deals and the Braves are not common occurrences. With the departure of homegrown All-Star catcher Brian McCann, that many fans once thought to be a Brave For Life, it began to put into question the futures of other current and young players on the roster, namely Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman; surely there would be no way for the Braves to retain either of those guys once they hit free agency, because the Braves do not have money and are cheap!
Which makes the news that broke this week where the Braves managed to secure both Heyward and Freeman for multiple years that much sweeter. But with no disrespect to the phenom, the future and the sure-thing superstar Jason Heyward, I’m way happier over the Freddie Freeman extension over Heyward’s.
It’s hard to believe the time that’s passed, but it was about seven years ago when the Braves supposedly pull the biggest coup of the 2007 draft, when they snared Jason Heyward with the 14th overall pick. It was a supposedly mythical process that supposedly relied upon lots of misdirection, covert scouting and a good bit of acting to make Heyward, his family and all other MLB teams from thinking the Braves were interested in him, so that they would consider him as questionable and pick someone else. The tactics worked, and the Braves were able to get Heyward, and Braves fans everywhere rejoiced at the acquisition of this sure-fire, can’t-miss, layup of a future superstar.
Nearly 60 picks later, when it was the Braves’ turn to pick again, they drafted this kid named Freddie Freeman. Not a ton was really known about the guy, but it was quickly revealed that him and Jason Heyward were familiar with each other and friends, having met in traveling leagues, despite living on opposite sides of the country.
Jason Heyward has pretty much had the spotlight on him throughout the years, all through his development in the minor leagues to his ascension to the majors. But it’s not undeserved, because he was and still is a freak of nature in the fact that he’s this 6’4 mammoth that runs like a gazelle, has speed, athleticism and a cannon for an arm, and isn’t even 25 years old yet. But throughout it all, always right there on his heels, was Freddie Freeman. Although Freeman was essentially c-blocked by a veteran first baseman in 2010 when Heyward broke into the major leagues, he arrived for good immediately the following year. The rest has pretty much been history throughout the span of the last three seasons, with the Braves returning to being a top-tier team with Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman basically leading the squad.
Getting back to the point though, now I really do like Jason Heyward a lot. He is undoubtedly an amazing player, and until I see something more astounding, I will forever say that the home run he hit in his major league debut was the greatest, most magical moment I’ve ever witnessed in sports. I will take that to the grave with me until proven otherwise.
I’m absolutely psyched that the Braves signed Heyward to a two-year deal, and that for this year and next, there will be little buzz and worry about Jason Heyward’s financial standing with the squad.
But I love Freddie Freeman. Freddie Freeman encapsulates everything that is right and everything that is good about baseball to me. When I say that baseball is a source of happiness, the image of Freddie Freeman is right there in mind with such a sentiment.
Aside from the fact that Freddie Freeman is an outstanding baseball player, who hits to all parts of the field and is a vastly better fielder than stat geeks want to give him credit for, it’s absolutely everything else that makes me love the guy. Freddie Freeman is the guy, regardless of the fact that he’s a millionaire professional athlete, you want to be one of your friends and a guy to go hang out with. Freddie Freeman is candid, and down-to-earth with the media. Freddie Freeman bombs photos and television shots as epically as Jason Heyward makes diving catches. Freddie Freeman has created an entire culture around hugging his teammates and making it completely acceptable.
And then there’s the touching story of Freddie Freeman and how he honors his late mother (who succumbed to melanoma) by wearing long sleeves every day. And then he dons pink cleats and pink wristbands and destroys his opponents every year on Mother’s Day.
The bottom line is that he makes baseball fun. Not just for his teammates, but the fans. If you cannot appreciate Freddie Freeman for what he is in Major League Baseball and not just the Braves, you probably are incapable of appreciating baseball.
The fact that the stingy, penny-pinching Braves opened up their wallet and made such a monumental commitment to Freddie Freeman makes me absolutely joyous. I understood why Brian McCann left the Braves, and I could realistically accept the departures of Jason Heyward and Craig Kimbrel if it comes to fruition. Losing Freddie Freeman would have absolutely demoralizing. Although the full details aren’t disclosed at the time I’m writing this, for all intents and purposes, Freddie Freeman will be a Brave until 2023. Hits, homers, hugs and high five celebrations for eight more years. This, is reason to be ecstatic.
