Jeff Francoeur says he was JUST KIDDING when he said he wished he had punched Wilson Contreras in the face ... telling TMZ Sports, "I actually said it more joking!"
If ya missed it ... the Cubs and Braves nearly got in an all-out brawl earlier this week after Contreras hit a massive home run and chirped about it after.
Francoeur -- a former Braves star who now broadcasts games -- said he actually got into a scuffle with the Cubs catcher back in 2016 ... and said on TV after the dust-up he now wishes he had punched the guy in the face back then!