With every passing day, the Atlanta Braves appear to be the major-league club most interested in giving Tim Tebow a shot.
A day after general manager John Coppolella said signing the former NFL quarterback would be for baseball purposes and not for ticket prices, he added there's nothing to lose by giving him a chance.
"There's no risk," Coppolella told MLB.com's Mark Bowman. "If it doesn't work, we'll be honest with Tim early, and we can move on. If it does work, it's great for the Braves and it's great for baseball."
Related: Braves interested in Tebow as player, not as attraction
Financially, the Braves would give him a signing bonus of less than $100,000, and assign him to instructional league, which kicks off on Sept. 17. Depending on how he does, Winter League might be an option.
Tebow also wouldn't receive an invite to the Braves' MLB Spring Training next year. The club would also make sure he wasn't blocking the growth of a prospect in the wings.
"Whatever Tim decides, the fact that he wants to play baseball is good for the game," Coppolella said. "It's similar to when Michael Jordan or others have wanted to play. It's positive to draw this kind of interest to the game and make it a story because it's good for baseball."
But as previously stated, Coppolella insists this isn't a ploy to get fans in the seats. The general manager said the interest in Tebow increased because their top two scouts, Brian Bridges and Roy Clark, insist there's something there.
"They went to see Tim more in the spirit of 'leave no stone unturned,' and they liked what they saw," he said. "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."
