The Braves have shelled out some money in the past 24 hours, but do they have any more money to spend? Let's take a look at the Braves salary picture for this year and beyond.
I have pulled this salary info primarily from Cot's Baseball Contracts, which actually puts our total salary from last year at $102 million, which may be a little off. The table below includes hard salary figures for players and my guestimates of arbitration and 2009 salaries in italics. Yes, I may be off by a million or two here or there, but what's a million dollars among friends?
I've only projected out certain players, and the players I filled in for the roster spots can obviously be interchanged with other "close to minimum" salaried players. I estimated $450,000 for many of our guys because they have a year or two of experience and will likely get some kind of raise above the minimum from the Braves.
| POS | Player | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| S-1 | Derek Lowe | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000 |
| S-2 | Kenshin Kawakami | $8,000,000 | $8,000,000 | $8,000,000 |
| S-3 | Javier Vazquez | $11,500,000 | $11,500,000 | |
| S-4 | Jair Jurrjens | $450,000 | ||
| S-5 | Jorge Campillo | $450,000 | ||
| CL | Mike Gonzalez | $4,500,000 | ||
| B-1 | Rafael Soriano | $6,100,000 | ||
| B-2 | Peter Moylan | $450,000 | ||
| B-3 | Manny Acosta | $450,000 | ||
| B-4 | Jeff Bennett | $450,000 | ||
| B-5 | Blaine Boyer | $450,000 | ||
| C-1 | Brian McCann | $3,500,000 | $5,500,000 | $6,500,000 |
| C-2 | David Ross | $1,400,000 | $1,600,000 | |
| 1B | Casey Kotchman | $2,500,000 | $4,500,000 | $6,500,000 |
| 2B | Kelly Johnson | $1,900,000 | $3,250,000 | $6,250,000 |
| 3B | Chipper Jones | $10,000,000 | ||
| SS | Yunel Escobar | $450,000 | ||
| INF | Omar Infante | $1,850,000 | $2,225,000 | $2,500,000 |
| INF | Martin Prado | $450,000 | ||
| LF | Matt Diaz | $1,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,900,000 |
| CF | Gregor Blanco | $450,000 | ||
| RF | Jeff Francoeur | $1,250,000 | $2,900,000 | $5,500,000 |
| OF | Greg Norton | $800,000 | ||
| OF | Josh Anderson | $450,000 | ||
| OF | Brandon Jones | $380,000 | ||
| INJ | Tim Hudson | $13,000,000 | $12,000,000 | |
| TOTALS: | $87,680,000 | $68,975,000 | $53,150,000 |
We seem to be in pretty good shape to sign or trade for that extra bat we need. Considering we will likely get some money from Hudson's insurance and we still have some left under the unconfirmed $95 million ownership-imposed salary cap, we look to have anywhere from $10 to $15 million left to spend on available talent.
We also have so many young players that we may be able to make a more-than-one-year-commitment to a free agent or take on remaining years on a contract via trade.
0 recs | 49 comments
Enough to get Dunn?
SayHeyWerd - January 13, 2009
If Dunn was looking for a Burrell type deal, I’d say yes.
beeniez - January 13, 2009
Probably not "looking for"
But possibly “willing to settle for”
mattdiaz4life - January 13, 2009
Dunn wants ALOT! I can’t remeber the dollar value but it was something like 15 million per year.
Falconzfan284 - January 13, 2009
he wants 4 yr 56m
Brandonba - January 13, 2009
And...
I want $1million/day and a giant marble statue of myself.
But, …
mburris1 - January 13, 2009
Ouch!
A gondeee sucker punch!
mattdiaz4life - January 13, 2009
Against my will..
I am starting to feel positive about this upcoming year…but I am not happy about feeling positive. I will feel much, much better once we decide on a left fielder. I guess the Braves have pretty much decided Brandon Jones is not it?
bengoodfella - January 13, 2009
I am assuming they have since no one seems to like the Brandon Jones/Matt Diaz last option platoon. I thought Jones could be good, guess I was wrong.
bengoodfella - January 13, 2009
Agree
I am not Totally excited but excited. I like the signing of Derek Lowe but he’s not an ACE! But Iam not mad at it. Now we need a Big Bat to play LF, Manny Ramierez any one????
AlRoBraves95 - January 13, 2009
You know
if someone mentions Manny Ramirez I may eventually hop on that train just to appease them, but I don’t think it will happen. I really think Manny is so insane, if he doesn’t get $20 million he will sit out the year.
bengoodfella - January 13, 2009
one of my best freidns is a big Sawx fan (he’s a good one, no accent and not obnoxious about it, although he did call me to brag about Smoltz)… he heard a story that apparently Manny is like Ty in Caddyshack in that he has checks laying baout that he just forgets to cash. Something like someone found a 2 month old check in his locker for like $50,000.
Swo12bv - January 14, 2009
i don’t think that number is accurate. manny would get way more than 50K on one check, right?
bigjoe - January 14, 2009
If the market settles a little more and Dunn gets antsy because he won’t get 4/56MM, I think it’s within the realm of possibility we can get him on a more reasonable 2-year deal, which seems ideal to me since we do have a couple of minor league OF’ers who’ll certainly be ready to play by then.
Or… call Detroit about Maggs…
FineHamAbounds - January 13, 2009
Hmmm...
$10-$15 million left to spend…
Jermaine Dye is due to make $11.5 with a $12 mil mutual option for ’10…get ’er done Franky…
A49erFan77 - January 13, 2009
Who would
we trade to get Dye? That is my only worry. Same thing with Ordonez. I feel like we have depleted our farm system enough while trading for players that had no impact on our team.
bengoodfella - January 13, 2009
Jo Jo Reyes and a third round pick.
SayHeyWerd - January 13, 2009
Sure thing
We can even throw in a couple of 2010 5th and 6th rouders to sweeten the pot.
get swoll yunel - January 13, 2009
If that is all
I say trade for Dye. I would take that in a heartbeat.
bengoodfella - January 13, 2009
they are being sarcastic i think…. especially cause you can’t trade draft picks
Swo12bv - January 14, 2009
+1
Yakker - January 14, 2009
My guess is
you’re about 5 million off on salary arb. and Chipper’s 11 million dollar salary(right?). But yea, it looks like the Braves can add a 5-7 million dollar player.
I’d be suprised if it were Dye’s 11.5 million. But Nick Swisher’s 5.3 million dollar salary in 2009 or Nady’s 5 or 6 million in arbitration sounds about right.
NEBravesFan33 - January 13, 2009
5 million off in which direction? Cot’s said that Chipper only reached the $10 million incentive level. I like your thinking regarding Swisher and Nady, but I’m still stuck on Ryan Ludwick — possible one year wonder and all.
gondeee - January 13, 2009
Ryan Ludwick
I am not stuck on Ryan Ludwick but I have to admit he is intriguing. It would make me feel a lot better if he had two years of great production. If he had, then I would be all for trading for him. I think Nady and Swisher would be good additions, just as long as the Yankees don’t get greedy (yeah right) and try to ask for too much in return.
bengoodfella - January 13, 2009
A little short
I thought arb. eligible players would command more, but you could be right.
Ludwick is probably going to cost too much. Of course, if the Braves really want to contend….
NEBravesFan33 - January 13, 2009
But
If like 80% of Hudson’s conract is insured, than we do have around 10-15 million to spend….
NEBravesFan33 - January 13, 2009
Kawakami
is getting paid 3/23 not 3/24, it just updated.
someguy917 - January 13, 2009
YES!
We just saved $333,333.33/34 for this year!
bengoodfella - January 13, 2009
HOLLA
mattdiaz4life - January 13, 2009
I’m really liking your user name there.
MattDiazFanClub - January 13, 2009
I guess we’ve got both Matt Diaz fans on here now.
gondeee - January 13, 2009
The man can straight mash
lefty pitching.
mattdiaz4life - January 13, 2009
Pretty sure you cannot trade picks in the MLB Draft
graf - January 13, 2009
I think they were joking…I think. I bet you a 19th round pick they were.
bengoodfella - January 13, 2009
bingo
get swoll yunel - January 14, 2009
no jermaine dye.
no xavier nady.
no ryan ludwick.
no rick ankiel.
no jose guillen
ADAM M’EFFING DUNN. or nick swisher. or another young player that has decent pop and knows how to take a walk thats under control for a couple years that i forgot about
bigjoe - January 13, 2009
how about ryan ludwick?
gondeee - January 13, 2009
bigjoe - January 13, 2009
But seriously, what about Ryan Ludwick?
cbwilk - January 13, 2009
i tend to shy away from guys who have had their first good, full season at the age of 30
bigjoe - January 14, 2009
Ok, I get that. but what do you think about Ryan Ludwick?
cbwilk - January 14, 2009
I gotta say, the more I think about it, the more I’m in favor of Ryan Ludwick in left field.
gondeee - January 14, 2009
I think my joke was lost along the way…
cbwilk - January 14, 2009
have we had a “WE NEED RYAN LUDWICK” fanpost yet?
Swo12bv - January 14, 2009
I’m in favor of a SIGN LUDWICK AND SHEETS fanpost right about now.
mattdiaz4life - January 14, 2009
you can all go to hell.
bigjoe - January 14, 2009
I’d be okay with Swish.
Smoltz's Beard - January 14, 2009
ya im for ryan too
Brandonba - January 14, 2009
I’m all about Adam Dunn. I love the idea of signing a guy who’s so good he’s boring. I just wish his price tag would come down a little.
FineHamAbounds - January 14, 2009
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