Atlanta Braves scandal worsens daily
By Fred Owens
Sean Burnett
Munsey’s version of the events leading to the Braves signing Burnett 2016 paint a picture of deceit that’s unacceptable.
"At the risk of ‘piling on,’ I can tell you that Mr. Coppolella quickly became my least favorite GM to deal with after my interactions with him on behalf of Sean Burnett.”"
Early last season Coppolella called Munsey about Sean Burnett and urged Munsey to “…Give us this opportunity…He’ll be up within 2 weeks.’ They worked out a deal with opt outs at the two-week and four-week mark, something Munsey says is a “fairly standard clause.” As he says, these clauses are in fact common.
Every year players on a minor league deals opt when not added to the major league roster. The standard clause specifies thirty days but players and teams can and do negotiate different wording. In this case the contract delivered was not as negotiated, it had only the 30 day opt out.
Coppolella convinced Munsey Burnett would be up in two weeks so it was just a formality. Burnett signed but wasn’t up in two weeks. What ensued was a case of ‘tell him I’m not here’ that lasted another couple of weeks.
Essentially Munsey claim Coppolella lied to him, avoided his calls and when he did answer acted like the earlier conversations had not happened. While you can say a lawyer such as Munsey should have demanded the contract be altered, GMs are have to be good for their word. If they aren’t agents won’t deal with them. Indeed Munsey chose that route.
"“I vowed never to voluntarily send a guy to the Braves so long as (Coppolella) was there. Just a horrible way to do business, and I can only conclude that my dealings weren’t the exception.”"