Atlanta Braves Interest Level in Luis Robert Could be a Math Lesson

Dec 3, 2016; Santiago de Cuba, Cuba; The ashes of Cuban president Fidel Castro pass through Cespedes Park in Santiago de Cuba where he declared victory on Jan. 1, 1959. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY NETWORK
Dec 3, 2016; Santiago de Cuba, Cuba; The ashes of Cuban president Fidel Castro pass through Cespedes Park in Santiago de Cuba where he declared victory on Jan. 1, 1959. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; American League players celebrate on the field after defeating the National League in the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; American League players celebrate on the field after defeating the National League in the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Competition

This has to do with the number of MLB teams participating in this sweepstakes.

BaseballAmerica’s Ben Badler spent 2 minutes to explain exactly why the field is limited to 6-7 clubs and not all 30.

The teams that are in the mix – Oakland, Houston, San Diego, St. Louis, Braves, Reds, Nationals and the White Sox – are discussed in this additional 2 minutes of video blogging.

In here, Badler discounts the Braves and Nationals’ participation but we’ve since learned that Atlanta is at least keeping an eye on the situation… if they aren’t actually full in on it.

So that’s a probable maximum of 8 teams – and reasons to discount a couple that we’ll get to.  All of these except Atlanta and Washington either have already held private workouts with Robert or are expected to do so over the next couple of weeks.

That’s not really a lot, but as these things go, you only need 2 bidders to have an auction.  But this is not nearly like the Yoan Moncada situation (to name one) in which the Red Sox felt compelled to blow away their competition with an incredible bid.

BOTTOM LINE

If there are really at least 3-4 teams seriously involved, that will be enough to raise the price.