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Atlanta Braves 2021 payroll projections: How much is left

By Fred Owens

A detail view of an Atlanta Braves hat during the game against the New York Mets at Turner Field on May 3, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)
A detail view of an Atlanta Braves hat during the game against the New York Mets at Turner Field on May 3, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves still seek a big bat to hit behind Freddie Freeman. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Braves have roster needs with only a month left until pitchers and catchers report. Do they have enough payroll space to sign a high-dollar player or two?

Like every MLB team, the Atlanta Braves lost money in 2021. While we won’t know the exact amount for a couple of months, it safe to estimate the numbers is north of $100M.

The loss comes on the heels of a year when the club pushed its pre-COVID-19 payroll to the highest level in franchise history. Without the reductions necessitated by the COVID-19 situation, Fangraphs shows season-ending payroll – including buyouts – of  $163,957,644, with a CBT payroll including benefit plan contribution of $180,961,602.

Yes, Liberty Media actually spent money on the Atlanta Braves last year.

COTS shows only the prorated opening-day payroll, but it does show a CBT payroll of $186,030,333, tenth in MLB.

For those interested in the nine teams with higher CBT numbers than Atlanta, COTS shows:

  1. Yankees – $262,226892
  2. Astros – $233,788,777
  3. Dodgers – $225,464,999
  4. Cubs – $215,738,833
  5. Phillies – $207,646,782
  6. Mets – $202,029,048
  7. Red Sox – $198,442,167
  8. Nationals – $196,014,221
  9. Angels – $193,879,131

Without diving into the vagaries of the differences in COTS calculations and Fangraphs, we know that the club committed at least $160M in payroll over the full 2020.

Both sets of CBT numbers are based on end-of-year payroll and included players signed during the season. While the Braves ran quite a few temporary signing through the system, they weren’t big-ticket items; the 160 number is high, but not by much.

I had the payroll between $142M and $145M to start the 2020 season, adding the buyouts, salaries for minor league 40-man roster players; the $145m now looks accurate.

A baseline of $145M tells us the Atlanta Braves did as they said it would do, significantly increase payroll to make a run at the World Series. So far, we haven’t heard a word about what they may feel comfortable with for 2021, but the idea that the club was/is circling J T Realmuto, who wants at least $24M and five years, may indicate a return to at least 2020 levels.

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