The Braves continue to hem and haw over signing former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. GM John Coppolella, though, says, “There’s no risk” in signing Tebow, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports.
If the club were to sign Tebow, he would be assigned to Double-A Mississippi next year after taking reps in the instructional league, which begins later this month. According to Bowman, the Braves would also pay Tebow a signing bonus of less than $100,000 and would not give him a non-roster invitation to spring training.
Braves scouts Brian Bridges and Roy Clark attended Tebow’s showcase last week. While most were unimpressed, the Braves are standing behind the scouts. “Our interest in Tim Tebow is predicated in our belief in Brian Bridges and Roy Clark. They went to see Tim more in the spirit of ‘Leave no stone unturned,’ and they liked what they saw. They thought he has the upside potential to help us. That is why we’re exploring the possibility of bringing him into the Braves organization.”
While it is easy to laugh at the notion of signing Tebow, Coppolella does have a point. The risk for any team to sign Tebow really is minimal. A sub-$100,000 signing bonus is a pittance compared to the clubs’ annual revenues. The Braves aren’t guaranteeing him a roster spot at the big league level or even at Triple-A. And his presence will certainly draw more people to attend minor league games in the southeast U.S.
