Some social media users were offended last night when Cincinnati Reds TV analyst Chris Welsh said that the Braves' Curaçao-born second baseman "may not know the difference between 35 million dollars and 85 million dollars."
The longtime Fox Sports Ohio announcer was talking about Braves star Ozzie Albies' recent contract extension, which many felt was way below what he should have received. As several sports websites and other outlets — including Deadspin, Awful Announcing and the New York Post — reported today, many felt that Welsh was essentially saying Albies was too dumb and (formerly) poor to understand his own contract negotiations.
“It’s funny, I’ve read a lot about it and I’ve read opinions on both sides," Welsh said. "A lot of people are blaming the agent for letting him sign a deal like that. But Albies came from a very poor background, he’s from Curaçao, and when somebody offers you 35 million dollars — I mean, he may not know the difference between $35 million and $85 million. It’s going to have a tremendous positive effect on his family and himself. Maybe the people in his immediate family or extended family. It changes the lives of so many people.”
His full discussion about Albies' contract was longer and more nuanced than the few lines that drew ire suggest. Watch Welsh's full commentary below.
So, here's the full comments from the Cincinnati Reds broadcast about Ozzie Albies and the deal he took. pic.twitter.com/eSYMXMk7px
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) April 25, 2019
UPDATE: Welsh said he apologized to Albies in person on Thursday and he opened Thursday's broadcast with a sincere public apology, saying, "I used some words last night that are just not very good choices for words. In fact, they were uninformed and they were wrong."
