AJC reports,
The Braves have already declined a $3 million option on pitcher Shane Reynolds' contract and dropped backup catcher Henry Blanco from their roster. Those were the easy decisions.The 2004 Atlanta Braves are going to be a radically different team. But, really, that's been the case each of the last several years. While still one of the larger payroll teams, the Time-Warner owned Braves are well behind the Yankees, BoSox, and a handful of other teams that can afford to operate at a loss or have huge local television deals. The Braves are on TBS, of course, but MLB considers that a national network and the Braves must therefore share most of that revenue with the other teams, whereas the Yankees keep all of their YES network money.The myriad of difficult ones come during the next eight weeks as the team aims to reduce payroll while remaining a perennial leader in a division that includes the World Series champion Florida Marlins and the determined-to-improve Phillies and Mets.
Among 12 Braves eligible for free agency, Javy Lopez, Gary Sheffield and Julio Franco already have filed.
The rest can do so any time before a Nov. 9 deadline, including Greg Maddux, Vinny Castilla, Darren Holmes, Darren Bragg, Roberto Hernandez, Kent Mercker, Matt Franco, Reynolds and Blanco.
The Braves also don't plan to offer arbitration to first baseman Robert Fick, which would make more than half of their late-season 25-man roster eligible for free agency.
Of those 13, it wouldn't be surprising if 10 or more join other teams or retire.
While it's uncertain whether the market for Maddux will be any better than last winter, there could be significant interest in Lopez, and Sheffield has said he'll play for any team that will pay him what he believes he's worth, even a doormat like Tampa Bay.
If the Braves are unwilling to give him $40 million or so over three years, Sheffield could end up with the Yankees, who need a right fielder and will make runs at him, Vladimir Guerrero or Sammy Sosa, if the Cubs slugger opts out of his current contract.
The Braves could lose a pitcher with 289 career wins (Maddux) and two hitters (Lopez and Sheffield) who totaled 82 of their major league-leading 235 homers.
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