Along with the league lockout, the Atlanta Braves have been the talk of the MLB recently. The team was unable to come up with a contract extension for Freddie Freeman before the lockout began on December 2. The star first baseman wants a six-year contract extension, but the Braves only offered him a $135 million, five-year extension.
However, reports show that the Braves have more than enough money to offer Freeman and extend his contract six years. MLB insider Jeff Passan tweeted the Braves' recent earnings.
Do not believe the lie that baseball teams are not extremely profitable ventures. They are. And the financials of the Atlanta Braves, as @EricFisherSBG noted, illustrate that. A $104 million profit in 2021. A $6 million-per-game revenue stream. As a business, baseball is superb. pic.twitter.com/OXlMCdOKNn
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 25, 2022
According to Passan, the franchise made a $104 million profit in 2021 and had a $6 million-per-game revenue stream. He also tweeted the Braves' operating income before depreciation and amortization the three years before their 2021 championship season.
OK. Here are the Braves' OIBDA (operating income before depreciation and amortization) in non-championship years. And remember: The tax benefits of ownership are enormous, too.
2018: $88 million
2019: $54 million
2020: -$53 million** 2020 was a COVID-shortened 60-game season https://t.co/ZI00QNz5WL
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 25, 2022
Besides the 2020 season, which was shortened due to COVID-19, the Braves have had plenty of money coming in the past few years. A lot of this revenue can be attributed to Freeman, who has been the key contributor to the team's offense in recent years.
If the Braves want to continue making money the way they have been, they need to make a deal with Freeman. He is the face of their franchise and was a huge reason for the team's success in 2021. If Atlanta doesn't break the bank soon, Freeman is sure to find the deal he wants somewhere else within the league.
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