Interest in Tim Tebow ‘a pure baseball thing,’ Braves say — and it makes sense – Yahoo Sports

The Braves have had “multiple” conversations about a potential “low risk” signing of Tim Tebow, GM John Coppolella confirmed.

And their interest is more about the former Florida and NFL QB’s on-field potential than selling tickets at minor-league ballparks in SEC country.

“We are interested in Tim because of his potential as a baseball player, not as a gate attraction,” Coppolella said (via ESPN.com). “We have spoken with his representatives multiple times and all parties involved want this to be a pure baseball thing on every level.”

Tebow, 29, worked out last week in in Los Angeles for 46 scouts representing 28 teams, including the Braves, who had two scouts there.

The Braves’ interest in Tebow — first reported by ESPN and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution — makes sense on a lot of levels, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal:

—He would cost almost nothing, likely a deal worth less than $100,000.

—He wouldn’t block top prospects since he won’t take a spot on the team’s 40-man roster and could start at Double-A, a reach for Tebow but a level at which the Braves are prospect poor.

—He showed enough talent to really be intriguing to the Braves. (See Coppolella’s comment above.)