Braves' Jeff Francoeur Takes Steps To Build Sponsorship Portfolio

Francoeur Aims To Broaden Sponsorship Portfolio

Braves RF Jeff Francoeur is attempting to "build a career as a corporate pitchman that will last well beyond his playing days," according to John Manasso of the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE. Francouer already has "some major deals under his belt," including Delta Air Lines, Under Armour, Mizuno and an Atlanta-area limousine company. Francouer: "We're looking at a couple of other big ones for this offseason. There are so many good businesses in Atlanta, from Coke, Home Depot, Chick-fil-A." Francoeur in December signed with Career Sports & Entertainment (CSE) for representation, and CSE VP/Baseball Operations Keith Grunewald is "handling contract negotiations" for Francouer. CSE also is "counseling him on starting his own foundation, perhaps in the fall." CSE President of Client Representation Molly Fletcher said that Francoeur is "as marketable to a 23-year-old man as he is to a 55- or 65-year-old woman," and she added that potential deals include "companies involved in home improvement, the financial sector, telecommunications and food and beverage." Manasso notes Francoeur has earned his current endorsements "without the benefit of making the All-Star team or a long and impressive postseason," and when "those happen, he might be able to cash in even more." Marketing Evaluations, which compiles Q scores, has not yet calculated a score for Francoeur, but Exec VP Henry Schafer said that they "may include him in their next study in 2009" (ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE, 5/30 issue).