Braves predicted to miss out on $150 million All-Star due to cheap 'tendencies'

Like it or not, the Atlanta Braves operate differently than most big-market Major League Baseball teams.

The Braves have built an incredible collection of star talent due to their foresight to lock up core players far in advance of free agency. Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, and Spencer Strider signed long-term deals for far less than they would have made as free agents.

The approach cuts the other way, too. Homegrown superstars Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson were forced to sign elsewhere when the Braves weren't willing to pay them when they hit the open market. The same could happen soon with star pitcher Max Fried, who is expected to have a lucrative market this winter.

Recently, Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report implored the Braves to change their ways. Miller listed the Braves as a top-three fit for star shortstop Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers in free agency to fill their obvious need at the position.

"(The Braves) need to do something about their shortstop situation... This past season, Orlando Arcia posted MLB's second-worst OPS+ (73) among qualified hitters," Miller said. "Adames has to be on the table for Atlanta now that they've had two years to regret not doing more to keep Dansby Swanson."

However, Miller ultimately predicted that the Braves would miss out on Adames due to their hesitancy to sign free agents to market-value deals, opting for a lower-budget star like Ha-Seong Kim of the San Diego Padres.

"Given Atlanta's roster-building tendencies, they'll probably try to address it in the form of Ha-Seong Kim," Miller said. "They might be able to get him on something like a four-year, $50 million deal after the moderately disappointing season he had in San Diego."

Kim might be productive for the Braves, but he's a class below Adames with the bat. Adames blasted 32 home runs and drove in 112 RBI for Milwaukee this season, while Kim's career-highs are 17 homers and 60 RBI.

However, with Adames projected to make between $150-160 million this winter, it's reasonable to think the Braves might look to save money. And they're the Braves, so they'll probably find a way to get back on top of the National League East next fall despite their frugality.

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