Francoeur asks for nearly $4 million in arbitration

Jeff Francoeur and the Braves were $1.15 million apart when the sides exchanged salary-arbitration figures Tuesday, the largest difference between the team and its three unsigned arbitration-eligible players.

The Braves had a $950,000 difference with second baseman Kelly Johnson and a $775,000 difference with first baseman Casey Kotchman.

The team can continue to negotiate with any of them until arbitration hearings next month, at which time a panel would choose either the salary requested by the player or the one offered by the team, not an amount between the figures.

Francoeur made $460,000 and set career-lows in average (.239), home runs (11) and slugging percentage (.359). The Braves offered Francoeur a $2.8 million salary for 2009; he asked for $3.95 million.

A fivefold or greater increase is typical for a player in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

Johnson, who set career-highs with a .287 average, 57 extra-base hits (12 homers) and 69 RBIs, asked for a $3.3 million salary in 2009 and was offered $2.35 million. Kotchman asked for $3.25 million and was offered $2.475 million.