Braves Avoid Arbitration With Michael Bourn

by SCrebel10 on Jan 17, 2012 1:02 PM EST

Atlanta and Bourn came to terms on a very reasonable one-year deal to avoid arbitration.

According to a tweet from Danny Knobler over at CBSSports.com, the Braves have avoided arbitration with center fielder Michael Bourn by coming to terms on a one-year deal worth $6,845,000.

That's a very good deal value wise for one of the best center fielders in the game. Bourn made $4.4 million last season, and will become a free agent after the 2012 season, unless the Braves are able to sign the Scott Boras client to a long-term extension.

With Bourn, Martin Prado, and Eric O`Flaherty now under contract, pitcher Jair Jurrjens is the only arbitration eligible Brave that remains un-signed.

According to Mark Bowman on twitter, he feels like an agreement between the Braves and Jurrjens could be reached today.

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Comments

I would really

Like to lock Bourn up long term

by carloscollazo06 on Jan 17, 2012 1:04 PM EST reply actions

agreed

but at what cost? I would think offering something like a 4 year 50 mil deal, with a team option for a 5th year would be a good starting point and maybe we can lock him up before next season

by Rodrda01 on Jan 17, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

12.5 per is a bit high IMO.

Victorino is getting 9.5 in his first would be FA year and he is Bourn with less SB and more power while also being a switch hitter.

I think 9-10mil per year would be fair.

by drumzalicious on Jan 17, 2012 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

true

but Victorino signed that contract when he was still arb eligible, so he did not get market value. He also was coming off just a 2.4 WAR year (Bourn has gone 4.9, and 5 the last two years.) Victorino will be a FA as well next year, but is two years older than Bourn

by Rodrda01 on Jan 18, 2012 8:35 AM EST up reply actions

I really doubt Boras is gonna let that happen, unless Bourn just insists he wants to stay in Atlanta.

by beeswax on Jan 17, 2012 8:08 PM EST up reply actions

Jurrjens is now signed as well…$5.5MM, which I think is above what he was expecting.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Jan 17, 2012 1:14 PM EST reply actions

Not sure

that was more than what we were expecting.

by carloscollazo06 on Jan 17, 2012 1:24 PM EST up reply actions

Just going off of MLBTR, he was expected at $5.1MM.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Jan 17, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, ok

I was wondering, because this whole off season I had heard from $5-$6 mil.

by carloscollazo06 on Jan 17, 2012 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

So…everyone’s signed.

Jurrjens: +$0.4MM
Bourn: -$0.455MM
Prado: +$0.35MM
O’Flaherty: -$0.11MM

Total: +$0.185MM MLBTR’s estimations are pretty solid, eh??

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Jan 17, 2012 1:19 PM EST reply actions

So now plug these in with the other known salaries, and what are we at?

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 17, 2012 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

My #'s are:

Total: $88.2MM — 30.5MM to pitchers and 55.7MM to position players.

Assumptions: Braves are paying Matt Diaz 2MM for this year. Never seen if any cash for this year was sent by the pirates. Also does not have the 5th bench spot filled, and missing 2 spots in the bullpen. If you assume all three positions are filled by minimum-salary players, I estimate 89.7MM opening day roster. This includes the 10MM for D Lowe.

by fphjr01 on Jan 17, 2012 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

On Cot's...

$83,701,667

Before: Heyward, Hanson, Medlen, Venters, Kimbrel, CMart, Beachy, Freeman, and five(??) other roster spots on the 25-man…those spots are Pastornicky, SP, RP, RP, Bench.

I just don’t know what the new minimums are for rookies, 2nd year, and 3rd year players.

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Jan 17, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

Rookies are now $480K. Have yet to find anything on 2nd and 3rd year guys…

-C

It’s rough to sit through these games and not have someone that can’t hit a Ball?

by cthabeerman on Jan 17, 2012 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

Estimate guys like Heyward, Hanson, and Venters at $550K

And everyone else at $500K, and you should be close enough.

Braves didn’t raise payroll like they promised, unless they’re just really looking at last years. I figure it’s at $89MM, which is a $2MM increase. It’s way, way below what it was in 2008-2009, belying any statements that payroll will be consistent. We’re still paying essentially what we were in 2004, despite the market around us getting continually richer.

Braves will be fine. I'm not worried.

by Bronn on Sep 18, 2011 4:26 PM EDT

by Bronn on Jan 17, 2012 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

Over on this other thread...

(http://www.talkingchop.com/2012/1/17/2713678/braves-bourn-avoid-arbitration), I have the number as $86.275m. Details and explanations provided there.

"Sir Stealth, Stay stealth.. Your a moron" (jrod1142), 12/15/11 (the epic FWren Fortitude FanPost)

by carpengui on Jan 17, 2012 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

Hmmmm.... bad link

Let’s try it this way

"Sir Stealth, Stay stealth.. Your a moron" (jrod1142), 12/15/11 (the epic FWren Fortitude FanPost)

by carpengui on Jan 17, 2012 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

Regardless of the exact number...

a tweet from gondee seems right to me: in theory the Braves were going to be okay with a slight bump possible in payroll if necessary. He believes that Atlanta still has maybe up to another $10m available.

"Sir Stealth, Stay stealth.. Your a moron" (jrod1142), 12/15/11 (the epic FWren Fortitude FanPost)

by carpengui on Jan 17, 2012 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

More like $10 available.

Q: If not us, who? If not now, when? A: The Batman. And "when you least expect it."

by Lennox on Jan 17, 2012 6:00 PM EST up reply actions

I read that as “if not for owing Lowe” we’d have $10M

"First!"...Who gives a damn if you are first

by bighop on Jan 17, 2012 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

Regarding 2013, for a moment...

There have been some reports about the Braves having a ton of money available next year. I think I can speak to that for a sec, here… here’s the best (worst?) case scenario for that:

1. Bourn. $6.845m if not extended; free agent in 2013.
2. Prado, if traded away. $4.75m
3. Chipper, if he retires: $14m
4. McCann, if club option declined (yeah, right!), $8.67m
5. Ross, free agent in 2013: $1.625m
6. Hinske, free agent in 2013, $1.5m
7. Diaz, free agent in 2013, $2m
8. Wilson, free agent in 2013, $1m
9. Hudson, if 2013 club option declined, $9m.
10. Jurrjens, if traded, $5.5m
11. EOF, if arb declined, $2.49m

These figures can be manipulated in a hundred different ways. They add up to $57.38m. But how much of that will actually happen? My personal guess is #’s 1,2,3,6,7,8 and 10. Hudson?… depends on his 2012. Ross? Re-sign. Others will be replaced at similar costs, so those would be a wash. Your mileage may vary.

"Sir Stealth, Stay stealth.. Your a moron" (jrod1142), 12/15/11 (the epic FWren Fortitude FanPost)

by carpengui on Jan 17, 2012 2:40 PM EST reply actions

also...

Lowe’s $10M comes off the books next year…

by beeswax on Jan 17, 2012 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

Always forgetting him…. outta sight, outta mind.

"Sir Stealth, Stay stealth.. Your a moron" (jrod1142), 12/15/11 (the epic FWren Fortitude FanPost)

by carpengui on Jan 19, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

Very good deal....

For Bourn. The last very reasonable deal we will have with this player..I wonder if any deals are in the pipeline after the arbitration players have been settled. Wishful thinking; maybe Frank Wren was waiting for everyone to get paid before deals were to be made???

by EricT. on Jan 18, 2012 5:35 PM EST reply actions