Because they are owned by a public company, the Braves are required to disclose financial information that other organizations can keep in house. Those interested in reading up on the financial health of the Atlanta organization can check out this article from Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constution, which rounds up some info from a recent conference call involving Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei. The team lost money last year, though he says that was due in large part to its major international expenditures. Maffei also commented on reports that the Marlins might sell for $1.6B, saying that he was “not surprised” to see those numbers, while adding that he sees the Braves as a “far more valuable” franchise.
Here’s more from the NL East:
- The Nationals’ failure to land a top-tier closer this winter didn’t match the hopes of skipper Dusty Baker, as Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com reports. Baker says he was hoping the team would bolster its 9th-inning situation, and suggested that he doesn’t expect any late-breaking move to do so. The veteran skipper continued to suggest that there’ll be a battle in camp to knight a closer. Just how Joe Blanton will fit into the mix (once his deal is made official) remains to be seen, but Baker called his addition “significant.”
- Mets third baseman David Wright is headed for a second opinion on his ailing shoulder, as Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports. Whether or not that visit has any hope of substantially changing the outlook isn’t known. As of now, however, he’s slated to stop throwing for at least a few weeks. Read up on the latest on Wright here.
- After a delay caused by residual elbow soreness, Mets righty Zack Wheeler finally made it to his first live BP session of the spring today, as MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo tweets. Wheeler is scheduled to appear in game action for the first time on March 10th, at which time the organization may finally begin to get some clarity as to how much it can expect out of him this year. As with Wright, Wheeler has faced a non-linear road back from injuries. On the positive side for the Mets, Wheeler is just 26 years of age and is earning only $800K in his first season of arbitration eligibility.
Not surprised to see an asking price near $1.6 billion for a bad franchise? This must be a tease to see why on earth anyone will try and justify that price tag. And the most biased Braves fan couldn’t justify a $2 billion price tag for the Braves.
As a Braves fan, I hope MIA does get their $1.6 billion so Liberty Media might jump at a seller’s market and sell the team to someone who cares. We don’t need an Arthur Blank, but more of a figurehead (or southern-based company) who doesn’t mind increasing payroll not based on previous attendance figures, especially in light of a still-terrible ongoing TV deal. Go Braves (despite Liberty)
it’s a supply and demand thing, really…. there’s only 30 baseball teams, and they’re for sale so rarely, so yeah, the value gets nauseatingly inflated…..
Good luck getting approval in the old white man’s club. Even Mark Cuban can’t buy his way in through the back door.
I may be off but I believe the Braves payroll falls in around 115 million this year (give or take about 5 million) That’s enough payroll for a team to not have the “they don’t spend money” excuse. Spending money doesn’t guarantee success (i.e. Yankees) The goal is to develop as much young talent as you can and then supplement that by one or two free agents. (i.e. Cubs) The catch is both of those teams are major markets whereas the Braves will always have to be knowledgeable about how they spend money regardless of who owns the team.
They’re rebuilding. No reason for a sky high payroll. They were plenty competitive in the early ’10s.
They traded the farm to get Adam Eaton and didn’t get Robertson as well terrible management, can’t wait to see you in the Bronx soon Bryce
They better start reinforcing those walls or make the warning track larger.
Despite the playoffs being a total crapshoot, I feel like LAD and the Cubs are the only teams that have a shot at making it out of the NL.
Adam eating cery good though. David Robertson is not very good.
But Robertson has saves that means he’s a better reliever then what the Nationals have in Dusty’s book. Same book that says Turner fast Turner can only hit leadoff, and can’t hit anywhere else so the Nationals can have two good bats infront of Harper.
Don’t know why teams keep giving Baker jobs, his record is more due to him having great players then it is from his “skills”
Maybe because players love Baker? The Nats arguably had the same talent level last year under Baker as they had under Matt Williams. The difference is Baker being a great players manager and him creating a great atmosphere for the team.
Agree. Im a Mets fan, anf I dont get this Dusty bashing. He took the same team & won the division. If it was all players & no manager, why didn’t Williams? All this “Baker is terrible” stuff is BS. He’s taken 3 teams to the post-season. Managers with that on their resume don’t grow on trees. Not trying to bash Williams, he was just in over his head. Not sure he’d managed before that job. Get a few years in at the MiLB level, and take another shot.
Yeah but Eaton was a good RFer and an average CFer. Way overpay and now little to no depth.
Unbelievable overpay. Mets need a CF too, but thankfully we didn’t do something like that to get Eaton.
An average CFer is incredibly valuable.
LMAO! Bryce Harper would never go to the Yankees.
As a braves fan ill be happy to see harper leave the NL can’t stand him
Uhh….why? He grew up a Yankees fan…
That was what, 2 years ago?
Hahahahahaha
Same terrible management that turned Steven Sousa Jr. into Trea Turner and Joe Ross.
That was a great trade (couldn’t believe they got Turner for Sousa; didn’t know Ross, but he made it a true theft). But it doesn’t change the fact that the Eaton deal is awful, long term. Massive overpay. Unless the Nats know something physical about the SPs, and their all about to have their arms fall off.
Ugh, “they’re”. Pet peeve and I did it myself.
um, have you looked at Roberston’s stats since he joined the White Sox? he’s been painfully average. I don’t know why anyone would give up top prospects for him at this point, especially on that salary.
Don’t even try arguing with whitesox fans here about that.
Eat me, Yankee
Don’t over react Nationals “fans” you’ll be just fine.
Don’t embarrass yourself with your “fans” statement. Says a lot more about you as a person than the Nationals great fans.
Wait, the same fans that the players were asking for to come to games?
I’m a Mets fan living in DC. The stadium was filled mostly with the guests of lobbyists, businesses, and law firms in the early years. HOWEVER, I must admit their base of legit fans is growing nicely. They’re on their way.