LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Jeff Francoeur begins his second stint with the Braves as a non-roster invitee to spring training after signing a minor-league contract Monday. He turned only 32 last month.
This for a former Gold Glove winner who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as “The Natural” in his 2005 rookie year with the Braves, then totaled 48 homers and 208 RBIs over the next two seasons.
But if you think this will be the story of a veteran who’s bitter or calloused over a career that didn’t go as planned, well, you don’t know Francoeur. The pride of Parkview High School remains one of the most amiable, optimistic and energetic individuals you could hope to encounter.
“I’m excited,” Francoeur said after reporting to spring training Wednesday. “Excited to see all the familiar faces…. I’m excited to be here, excited for the opportunity. The offseason was crazy how it unfolded. But now I’m looking forward to just honestly getting back out on the field and playing.”
A TV reporter asked what his goals were this spring. Francoeur smiled and said, “I would think just the main goal is to make the team. I’m not here for any other reason. That’s anybody’s goal coming in.”
He paused and added, “But just to have fun. I look back to when I was last here and how different I think it’s going to be for me this time. I’m not putting the pressure on myself. Just have fun, enjoy myself. I’ve talked a lot to Kelly (Johnson) about last year, how it was coming (back) for him. I think I’ll just rely on that and rely on my past experience.”
Francoeur and Johnson – plus Brian McCann, Ryan Langerhans, Kyle Davies, Pete Orr, etc. — were part of the rookie-laden 2005 Braves, a class that became known as the “Baby Braves” and helped Atlanta win the last of its 14 consecutive division titles.
Johnson returned last season for his second stint with the Braves, had a solid season and was traded to the Mets in July, then re-signed this winter with the Braves, who wanted his versatility and leadership back in their clubhouse.
If Francoeur makes the team he’ll be a different sort of clubhouse presence – he’s loud; Johnson is soft-spoken — and serve as a backup corner outfielder and pinch-hitter.
After spending most of 2014 with the Padres’ Triple-A El Paso affiliate, Francoeur rebounded in a part-time role for the Phillies in 2015, hitting .258 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs in 343 at-bats. He was 11-for-30 (.367) with 11 RBIs as a pinch-hitter.
“The Baby Braves aren’t babies anymore,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez joked. “But it’s nice to have those guys. We always talk about high-character, good makeup, quality guys in the clubhouse, and we brought that with Francoeur.”
Gonzalez added, “He can help us win some games.”
His performance last season convinced Francoeur that he still had plenty left and wanted to play in 2016. But the offseason passed without a major league offer. Once it was apparent he would have to sign a minor-league deal, Francoeur circled back to the Braves, who discussed possibly signing him earlier in the offseason but never made an offer.
On Friday he talked to Gonzalez and had what Francoeur described as a “real good” conversation with Braves president of baseball operations. Hart is a smooth talker, with a reputation for being able to make a grown man feel like the best possible option would be to hitch his wagon to whatever Hart is driving.
Not that Francoeur needed much convincing. If he had to sign a minor league deal, it made sense to do it with his hometown Braves. Francoeur and his wife always kept their permanent home in the Atlanta suburbs.
“There were two or three other situations that we talked to that were going to be good opportunities, but like I said, staying home, not taking my family halfway across the country somewhere we did not want to be (was appealing),” he said. “At this point in my career, quite frankly, it’s not financially driven. I want to play where I enjoy myself. And the idea of waking up every day in Atlanta and playing where you live, after I had so many great memories….
“That’s one thing I think people forget, too: I know the ending, how I left, wasn’t great, but I had three great years here and a lot of good times with a lot of people. Went to the playoffs playing for Bobby (Cox), playing with Chipper (Jones) and (John Smoltz) and (Tom) Glavine – stuff that I love. Now I’m looking forward to being able to be that older guy and help some of these younger guys out.”
Francoeur gets a $1 million salary if he makes the major-league roster and can earn another $1 million in incentives. He has an opt-out clause that allows him to ask for his release if not on the major league roster by March 31.
It helped that there were still plenty of familiar faces including Gonzalez, who was third-base coach when Francoeur was here before, and coaches Terry Pendleton, Eddie Perez and Roger McDowell, plus veteran clubhouse employees and team officials including Cox, John Schuerholz and John Coppolella, a former assistant GM who eventually moved up to GM after Frank Wren was fired near the end of the 2014 season.
“It is fun to see everybody, to see the faces,” Francoeur said. “To drive into Reunion (where many Braves stay during spring training) last night and then come over this way. Especially now, my 2 ½ -year-old girl – we’re going Monday to Disney, right when they get down here. She’s excited about that, and honestly, for me, I’m excited about the opportunity to play at home. There’s a lot to be said for that, especially when you’re going all over.”
Francoeur played for six major league teams in 6 ½ seasons since he was traded by the Braves, including four teams in the past three years. He was unceremoniously dumped in July 2009 when Wren traded him to the Mets for Ryan Church, after Francoeur struggled in 2008 and early in the 2009 season.
Someone asked if there were any lingering hard feelings.
“Any time you get traded you’re not happy about it,” Francoeur said, smiling. “But I think everybody knows the situation at that time. I don’t think there’s any reason to beat up a dead horse. Everybody who’s here now, I get along with and feel great (about).”
The Braves have a surplus of veteran outfielders, with starter Nick Markakis entrenched in right field, and backups Emilio Bonifacio, Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher. Bourn and Swisher seem expendable now that newcomer Ender Inciarte is penciled in for center field and Hector Olivera for left field.
The Braves would have to eat all or most of a salary to trade Bourn ($14 million) or Swisher ($15 million); simply releasing one is another option. Swisher could be kept as a backup corner outfielder and first baseman, particularly if the Braves have concerns about Freddie Freeman being ready for regular duties due to lingering issues with his right wrist.
“I think I’ve learned a lot,” Francoeur said. “I was 25 the last time I was here, and have obviously been through a lot. I’m excited. I’m confident in the player I am now, and I know the things I can do and the things I can’t do. And so I don’t think there’s that pressure anymore to feel like I have to do this or do that. I really enjoyed my role last year at Philly, and hopefully can kind of do the same thing here.
“Like I said, I think it’s a whole different feeling coming back this time. I’m going to enjoy myself. I think last time at the end I put so much pressure on myself to do so much, I was listening to every single person about how to hit. And now I know what I need to do, I know what I want to do, and so I’m just going to enjoy the heck out of playing in a Braves uniform and playing at home.”
