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Atlanta Braves: 3 possible ways to structure for 2019

By Benjamin Chase

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Members of the Atlanta Braves stand during the national anthem wearing number 42 for the game against the San Diego Padres at SunTrust Park on April 15, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. All MLB players are wearing number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Members of the Atlanta Braves stand during the national anthem wearing number 42 for the game against the San Diego Padres at SunTrust Park on April 15, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. All MLB players are wearing number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 26: Brad Brach #46 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 26, 2018 in Miami, Florida. All players across MLB will wear nicknames on their backs as well as colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs inspired by youth-league uniforms during Players Weekend. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

Free Agents

Brandon McCarthy
Nick Markakis
Brad Brach
Kurt Suzuki
Lucas Duda
Rene Rivera
Anibal Sanchez
Ryan Flaherty
Peter Moylan

From the list of free agents for the Atlanta Braves, it’s very likely not one will be back. At this point, it’s most likely that the only one that will be strongly pursued will be Brach. Markakis and Suzuki would be likely welcome back at the right price, but success in 2018 has likely priced them beyond that price.

Arbitration

Arodys Vizcaino
Kevin Gausman
Mike Foltynewicz
Philip Gosselin
Jose Ramirez
Rex Brothers
Sam Freeman
Chase Whitley
Adam Duvall
Dan Winkler
Charlie Culberson
Jonny Venters

This is where some tough decisions will need to be made. Folty and Gaus will be guys that they want to pay, and they could even make long-term offers to both pitchers.

From there, things get a bit hairy. Duvall will be reasonable enough in cost, as will Dan Winkler and Charlie Culberson. Missing most of 2018 should keep Jose Ramirez from making big money. Those three should be easy signs.

Vizcaino and Venters are two guys that the Braves would definitely like back if the price was right and they’re healthy. Freeman could end up coming down to a numbers game, with the likelihood of 3 lefties already on the roster in A.J. Minter, Jesse Biddle, and Venters ahead of him. Making just a shot over $1M in 2018, the Braves would likely non-tender Freeman and then attempt to sign him to a smaller deal.

It’d be surprising to see the Braves even offer tenders to Gosselin, Brothers, or Whitley.

Under Contract

Freddie Freeman $21M
Julio Teheran $11.17M
Darren O’Day $9M
Ender Inciarte $5.7M
Tyler Flowers $4M

There are plenty that are also pre-arbitration, but these are the Atlanta Braves with a set contract for 2019, which is pretty incredible to consider. Only 5 players are currently under contract for 2019, which gives the team plenty of flexibility, and the cost is ~$60M for those 5, giving plenty of payroll to work with.

That should leave the Braves with roughly $60M in contracts, $40M in arbitration costs, and another $5 million in pre-arbitration players. That leaves approximately $35M for 2019.

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