Why MLB players would most want to sign with Atlanta if money and rosters weren’t a factor

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You’ll sometimes hear MLB players say “It wasn’t about the money” when signing a free agent contract, even if it’s with the highest bidder. In some cases this may be true, but there are many reasons why players sign with the teams of their choice, including money and taxes.

But what would happen if the playing field were more level?

In an anonymous survey conducted this spring, we asked a group of more than 100 players which team they would sign with if contracts, state taxes and rosters weren’t a factor.

Eighty-six players responded, and the Atlanta Braves were their top choice, with 12.7 percent of the vote.

“I would sign with the Braves, knowing what I know,” one player said. “If I didn’t know, I’d probably try to play a year for the Red Sox or the Yankees. Just to do it. Just to experience this. Probably the Red Sox.

The Red Sox received the second most votes (8), with the appeal of Fenway Park being one of the factors.

“It’s basically a museum,” said one player.

The Dodgers and Rangers received seven votes, followed by the Yankees and Cubs with six votes each.

A team’s home stadium was a common reason among players, including those who chose the Braves.

“I love this stadium,” one player said of Truist Park, the team’s home since 2017.

With 81 matches held each year at one venue, it is important that players enjoy where they play and spend the majority of their time.

The city outside the stadium has been the driving force behind at least one player having his eyes set on the West Coast.

“San Diego is a nice place to play,” said one of five players who chose the Padres as their preference.

The convenience of having spring training in the same city as the regular season forced at least one player to choose the Diamondbacks.

Beyond it all, though, the appeal of home is hard to beat, with players from Southern California, Miami, Seattle and even Cincinnati naming their hometown team.

The call to return home is potentially another reason why players chose the Braves. In the 2023 MLB Draft, Florida had the most high school players selected (17), followed by California (14), Texas (12) and Georgia (11). Florida, California, and Texas all have at least two major championship teams and several large population centers, while Georgia has only the Braves and the Atlanta metro area is home to the majority of the state’s population. State.

The Braves are also the team from the South, where much of the best college baseball is played. While Texas, California and Florida may have shared allegiances, the Braves are the de facto home team for much of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina . That’s why at least one player chose Atlanta in our poll.

“Just because I was a Braves fan growing up,” he said.

(Photo: Brett Davis / USA Today)