The Braves continue to spend some of the money they expect to generate in their new stadium.
With this month’s signing of third baseman Chris Johnson to a three-year contract extension, the Braves have committed $73.25 million in 2017 salaries to six players as part of long-term deals.
The players and their guaranteed salaries in 2017, which is scheduled to be the Braves’ first season in their new Cobb County ballpark:
- First baseman Freddie Freeman: $20.5 million
- Center fielder B.J. Upton: $16.45 million
- Closer Craig Kimbrel: $13 million
- Johnson: $9 million
- Shortstop Andrelton Simmons: $8 million
- Starting pitcher Julio Teheran: $6.3 million
Only one of the Braves signed through 2017 or beyond — Upton — received his contract before the team reached a deal to build the stadium, which will be partly paid for by Cobb taxpayers. The 2017 season is the last year on the contract Upton signed with the Braves as a free agent in November 2012.
Freeman, Kimbrel, Simmons, Teheran and Johnson — the only other Braves who currently have contracts that extend to 2017 or beyond — signed their extensions this year. Of the $290.9 million guaranteed in those five contracts, $203.8 million will be paid in seasons that the team expects to be in the new stadium.
Also fueling the spending spree: reworked local TV contracts that the CEO of Braves owner Liberty Media, Greg Maffei, said will generate about $500 million in additional revenue for the team over the life of the deals.
The Braves have said they expect virtually all revenue streams, including attendance, to increase in the new stadium.
