Braves have approximately 4 million to spend according to Braves Chairman, Terry McGuirk

This has been talked about 'til we're all blue in the face, but we finally have some set numbers. Terry says that the Braves are currently sitting at 90 million and will get to 94 million either during season or before season. Some encouraging news that there is some money.

However, there's news in this article not so encouraging:
1. The Braves are locked in to a local TV contract for the next 25 FRICKIN' YEARS. No chance of increasing payroll with higher telecast fee rates. BOOO!
2. Liberty Media has shown no interest in selling the Braves.

It sounds like the Braves are here to stay in the mid-market. A small bit of good news and two whoppers of bad news. Sorry to be the bearer.

4 months ago ryan c 15 comments 1 recs |

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I’m not saying Liberty is a good owner, but damn if they aren’t better than AOL/Time Warner was.

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by Lennox on Jan 25, 2012 9:46 PM EST reply actions

I'm reccing this. This 25-year deal needs to be on the front page.

25 years?

You’re freaking kidding me. Sure, maybe the Braves don’t get enough love by Atlanta-area residents, but Atlanta is the 9th most populous Metro Area in the country and is 83% the size of the Dallas area, which is 4th most populous.

These are the type of things that break a team. I hate to sound like this, but whoever approved this in team management is out of their mind, and needs to be fired today. This team is going to be in payroll cellar of the NL East in a few years (I believe we’re already 4th behind Miami, Philly, and NY), and probably in the lower third in all of MLB. I don’t often criticize Wren and Co., but there is no way in the world that they are capable of doing what Tampa or Toronto is doing right now.

I can understand the whole ‘media conglomerate’ ownership that doesn’t give a crap about the team, but I can’t understand giving completely sh****y networks like SS and Fox the right to broadcast games for pennies on the dollar over the next freaking 25 years. You don’t use the baseball team to make the network more valuable.

Sorry, but this is just another middle finger to Braves fans, and these type of events seem to be occurring a lot more often these days.

by frozendesert on Jan 25, 2012 11:11 PM EST reply actions 5 recs

rec'd

"The way y'all are lollygaggin around here with them picks and them shovels, you'd think it was 120 degrees...can't be more than 114."

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by SouthernPanther on Jan 25, 2012 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

green'd

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by BW Smith on Jan 26, 2012 9:02 AM EST up reply actions

25 freaking years unbelivable

by zacheyp on Jan 25, 2012 11:14 PM EST reply actions

how the hell do you make a 25 year commitment to fox sports network...are you kidding me

"The way y'all are lollygaggin around here with them picks and them shovels, you'd think it was 120 degrees...can't be more than 114."

Follow @greg24211

by SouthernPanther on Jan 25, 2012 11:34 PM EST reply actions

Let's hope there's an opt out clause in there somewhere

and soon.

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by Mr. Sanchez on Jan 26, 2012 6:46 AM EST up reply actions

Nope.

If we can land [Stephen Drew], I will give FW a bj.
~justincredubil02

by king of games on Jan 26, 2012 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

I'm fine with it

I really don’t think there is much correlation between money spent and world series. Sure, it helps, but you can win a world series on $94 million.

Look on the bright side, we have a less than stellar owner, but arguably the best front office in baseball. Things are still looking good.

by kalesi on Jan 26, 2012 7:06 AM EST reply actions

I get the displeasure with the payroll, but don’t we spend more than any other team in scouting and development?

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by ChopMaster on Jun 25, 2011 7:25 PM CDT

by justincredubil02 on Jan 26, 2012 7:23 AM EST reply actions

Kudos and high praise to Terry McGuirk for stepping up and clarifying the situation in an on the record interview. This was the right thing to do by the fans of the team and, more importantly, got Frank Wren’s back and supported his credibility, which is crucial to his ability to do his job

by fandave on Jan 26, 2012 8:09 AM EST reply actions

this deal is horrible, think of it this way

Right now i am 15 and a freshman in high school… when this contract expires i will be a grown man with (hopefully) a wife and kids. This contract is just to long.

by zacheyp on Jan 26, 2012 8:31 AM EST reply actions

The 25 year tv deal is possibly the worst deal I've ever seen or heard of.

The worst part of the deal is the no opt-out clause. 25 years is a long freaking time.

Good to know that there’s a few million bucks in the kitty to spend though. It should come in handy if we need to swing a deal at the deadline to add that one last piece.

The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace

I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.

Follow me on Twitter! @bdubsmitty

by BW Smith on Jan 26, 2012 9:03 AM EST reply actions