2004 Braves will..

[trevisc]

laroche..big time prospect. Has been tearing up the minors...

but shhhh..don't tell anyone about him..he's one of my sleepers!

DOH!

[Pedantic]

I thought him and Franco were going to split duties at first.

[trevisc]

they don't have Franco signed yet. But from what I've read it's his job to lose

[Pedantic]

Well a wee bit late, but I guess the Braves have signed Franco to a "minor-league" contract.

As expected, the Braves are bringing back 45-year-old first baseman Julio Franco.

He agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a $750,000 salary, provided that Franco wins a spot on the major league roster in spring training.

While it's technically a minor-league contract, Franco received assurances that the Braves plan to have him on the roster by the time the season begins.

Franco batted .294 with five homers and 31 RBIs in 197 at-bats last season while sharing first-base duties with Robert Fick.

"There were a number of teams that were interested in him," said Franco's agent, Chuck Berry, "and he probably could have made more money and possibly gotten a roster spot [right away] somewhere else.

"But Atlanta has been a good place for him, and I think he has a lot of trust and confidence in Bobby Cox and the front office, and confidence in himself [about winning a spot]."

Fick was let go after the season and Franco is expected to share time with top prospect Adam LaRoche in 2004.

"In some ways it's a more appealing situation for Julio [than in 2003]," Berry said. "You have a young kid who has a lot of potential. I think Julio likes the idea of working with him and helping him along."

There are additional performance incentives that can push Franco's earnings to just below $1 million.

[wrveres]

"There were a number of teams that were interested in him," said Franco's agent, Chuck Berry, "and he probably could have made more money and possibly gotten a roster spot [right away] somewhere else.

yep, I bet the were just kicking down the door... offering two and three year deals too huh ?? lmoa

[Madison]

"There were a number of teams that were interested in him," said Franco's agent, Chuck Berry, "and he probably could have made more money and possibly gotten a roster spot [right away] somewhere else.

yep, I bet the were just kicking down the door... offering two and three year deals too huh ?? lmoa

We all know the demand for Franco is high.

[wrveres]

"There were a number of teams that were interested in him," said Franco's agent, Chuck Berry, "and he probably could have made more money and possibly gotten a roster spot [right away] somewhere else.

yep, I bet the were just kicking down the door... offering two and three year deals too huh ?? lmoa

We all know the demand for Franco is high.

isnt Chuck Berry the guy who used to do the 'Gong Show' back in the day ... anybody remember the 'Gong Show'? Chuck Berry right?

[Madison]

isnt Chuck Berry the guy who used to do the 'Gong Show' back in the day ... anybody remember the 'Gong Show'? Chuck Berry right?

Lol.

[Guest]

"There were a number of teams that were interested in him," said Franco's agent, Chuck Berry, "and he probably could have made more money and possibly gotten a roster spot [right away] somewhere else.

yep, I bet the were just kicking down the door... offering two and three year deals too huh ?? lmoa

We all know the demand for Franco is high.

isnt Chuck Berry the guy who used to do the 'Gong Show' back in the day ... anybody remember the 'Gong Show'? Chuck Berry right?

Chuck something else. Chuck Berry is Rock guitar player!

[catcher-03]

im betting that the braves will win the nl east as useual, because of one big man, named leo mazzone, the greatest pitching coach of all time, the braves will win the east