Liberty Outlines Plans For Braves Under Deal With MLB

Liberty Says Braves' Payroll Should Increase Next Season

Liberty Media President & CEO Greg Maffei said that the company, which now owns the Braves, “plans to be hands-off, both by preference and by agreement” with MLB, according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. Maffei: “We are likely to be in the background ... focused on letting the great team that has operated the Braves continue what they do.” Tucker notes Liberty has “committed in writing to MLB that [Terry] McGuirk will run the Braves as chairman, CEO and, in baseball parlance, ‘control person.’” Liberty will have the majority of BOD seats that will set the team’s annual budget “after getting a recommendation from McGuirk,” but Liberty cannot cut the operating budget or player payroll “below the level of the past three years.” Maffei expects the payroll to increase from $81M, but “didn’t indicate when or by how much.” Tucker notes because Liberty was “drawn to the deal by taxes, not baseball, MLB sought and got a commitment that the company will hold the team at least through the 2011 season.” McGuirk will have an opportunity to buy the team if Liberty decide to sell it, and should Liberty fire McGuirk “at any point, the deal with MLB requires that his replacement have the same control and be approved” by the league (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/18).

HAMMERIN’ HANK: In Atlanta, Thomas Stinson reports Braves Senior VP Hank Aaron’s title and spot on the BOD “will not change,” but his job description is still unclear. Among his first jobs is to address the “diminishing number of African-Americans in professional baseball.” Aaron: “I’m coming back simply because of the fact [MLB Commissioner Bud Selig] wants me to come back. He is concerned about this problem, and he feels like I can make a difference” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/18).