Atlanta Braves 2021 payroll projections: How much is left
By Fred Owens
Atlanta Braves’ payroll right now
The table below shows the reported value of the club’s guaranteed contracts, contracts for players who’ve already agreed to arbitration, the team’s arbitration offer to Swanson and Soroka, Almonte’s contract if he plays in the majors, a small bump in pay for Newcomb and Matzek above minimum salary, and minimum salary numbers for the remaining players.
I chose players to create an even division between position players and pitchers; it doesn’t indicate a preference for one player.
| Player | Estimated payroll | Payroll % | ||
| 1 | Freddie Freeman | $22,359,375 | 19.1 | |
| 2 | Abraham Almonte | $990,000 | 0.8 | Place holder |
| 3 | Ender Inciarte | $8,700,000 | 7.4 | |
| 4 | Travis d’Arnaud | $8,000,000 | 6.8 | |
| 5 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | $5,000,000 | 4.3 | |
| 6 | Ozzie Albies | $3,000,000 | 2.6 | |
| 7 | Dansby Swanson | $6,300,000 | 5.4 | Estimate |
| 8 | Jack Mayfield | $575,000 | 0.5 | Place holder |
| 9 | Alex Jackson | $575,000 | 0.5 | Estimate |
| 10 | Cristian Pache | $575,000 | 0.5 | Estimate |
| 11 | Austin Riley | $575,000 | 0.5 | Estimate |
| 12 | Johan Camargo | $1,360,000 | 1.2 | |
| 13 | Max Fried | $3,500,000 | 3.0 | |
| 14 | Charlie Morton | $15,000,000 | 12.8 | |
| 15 | Drew Smyly | $11,000,000 | 9.4 | |
| 16 | Mike Soroka | $2,100,000 | 1.8 | Estimate |
| 17 | Ian Anderson | $575,000 | 0.5 | |
| 18 | Kyle Wright | $575,000 | 0.5 | |
| 19 | Will Smith | $13,000,000 | 11.1 | |
| 20 | Josh Tomlin | $1,000,000 | 0.9 | |
| 21 | Chris Martin | $7,000,000 | 6.0 | |
| 22 | A.J. Minter | $1,300,000 | 1.1 | |
| 23 | Grant Dayton | $900,000 | 0.8 | |
| 24 | Sean Newcombe | $575,000 | 0.5 | Estimate |
| 25 | Tyler Matzek | $575,000 | 0.5 | Estimate |
| 26 | Luke Jackson | $1,900,000 | 1.6 | |
| Total committed $ | $117,009,375 |
COTS shows a total of $118,409,375 because they show the player’s arbitration number. The Atlanta Braves are roughly $27.5M below the original 2020 opening day payroll with either number.
Without the DH, the Atlanta Braves are two-bats short of an optimum lineup and need at least one veteran bullpen arm. Freeman is the only lefty in the lineup right now unless Inciarte starts; ideally, one of the bats is a LHH.
Factors affecting any player moves
Remembering that both sides must see value to make a deal happen, adding three players to the Atlanta Braves’ roster while staying within the payroll framework outlined isn’t an easy maneuver. Acquiring quality players via free agency means adding expensive contracts, making finding a new home for Ender Inciarte’s contract a priority.
Trading for the best players means spending prospect capital; with few exceptions, teams trading a star player want high-level prospects. Finding a home for a declining fourth outfielder like Inciarte means adding a player or prospect to the deal to balance his contract’s negative value.
Teams with young stud players and significant team control aren’t going to trade those players without an overpay, particularly if the team feels it’s in the championship hunt.
For example: the Indians won’t trade Jose Ramirez, and the Athletics won’t trade Matt Chapman, for any package the Braves would offer.
The trade market is restricted to teams in either a rebuild or salary dump mode. Not every team has players that might fit the Braves’ needs, which further limits the market.
Platoons work in many situations. However, adding a pairing of Joc Pederson and Adam Duvall, for example, will cost $13-$15M, and add one bat in the lineup, hitting fifth, sixth, or seventh. For the Atlanta Braves in a season without the DH, this leaves the lineup one bat short.