Atlanta Braves interested in Corey Dickerson
By Fred Owens
Other roadblocks
Actually those two issues are intertwined. Markakis’ final contract year cost of $11M isn’t huge by today’s standards but it is large enough that the Braves would prefer not to have it on the bench.
His contract – at least in part – made moving him during this lukewarm hot stove season with a plethora of outfield options available proved impossible. A team with deeper pockets might make the move anyway but the Braves don’t have such pockets.
Estimates show the Atlanta Braves project an opening day payroll of $116.5M and word circulated a few weeks back that they were with $10m of the absolute limit. Dickerson’s arbitration deal isn’t guaranteed so he would cost the Braves his full $5.65M contract if he hits the open market.
The Rays would have to pay about $1M in severance anyway so a trade might entice them to eat that million leaving $4.6M bite out of the budget leaving. That little bite doesn’t allow much wiggle room in case of injury to a key piece as happened last year when Freddie Freeman went on the DL.
The 40-man roster sits at 39 today, but at some point Ronald Acuna need a slot making the roster effectively full. Players could be jettisoned of course, Rule 5 pick Anyelo Gomez might be sent back to the Yankees or one of the lottery picks picked up from the waiver wire could go. In any event, adding Dickerson isn’t a simple maneuver.