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Brace yourselves, Atlanta Braves fans. Another franchise player might be about to make his exit.

Less than a week after the Braves traded slick-fielding shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal quoted an unnamed MLB official who said Atlanta is, “shopping everyone owed money.”

As Rosenthal added, that includes right-hander Julio Teheran and veteran outfielders Nick Markakis and Cameron Maybin.

But the biggest name potentially on the block—the one that could leave the Braves faithful thrashing in their sleep—is first baseman Freddie Freeman.

Freeman has already been dangled, and another unnamed official told Rosenthal that trade chatter around 26-year-old two-time All-Star was “the talk of the [Arizona] Fall League” as rival scouts began to circle.

Why wouldn’t they? Freeman is a rare talent, and he’s locked up through 2021 after inking an eight-year, $135 million extension in 2014.

That’s a sizable investment, even for a player with as much skill and potential as Freeman. And while the trio of 20-home run seasons he posted between 2011 and 2013 teased superstar power, he’s hit just 18 in each of the last two seasons and watched his OPS decline.

Plus, there’s the wrist injury that cost Freeman time last season and kept him out of the starting lineup for the Braves’ final four games.

So, while prospective suitors will undoubtedly come calling, they might be wary about absolutely emptying the farm.

That’s what the Braves need to demand, though, and if they can’t get it, they should keep Freeman—from a strategic and public-relations standpoint.

Remember, this is a club that won 96 games in 2013. They had Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Brian McCann, Craig Kimbrel and Simmons. They were a young, hungry squad on the rise.

Or not, as it turned out. Two seasons later, the franchise is in full rebuild mode. They lost 95 games in 2015 and avoided the cellar in the National League East only thanks to the even-more-woeful Philadelphia Phillies.

That would seem to be an argument for jettisoning Freeman, shedding his salary and further restocking the farm. But as the Braves get ready to move into their shiny new stadium in 2017, they need to give the tomahawk-chopping masses something to hang their hopes on.

If they can move Freeman and net a glistening pile of blue chips, fine. But if the best they can muster is the type of good-but-not-overwhelming return they got for Simmons, they should take a pass.

Yes, Atlanta snagged left-hander Sean Newcomb, the Halos’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 19 prospect in the game, according to MLB.com. And they added veteran shortstop Erick Aybar, who could replace Simmons’ production at the plate if not in the field. 

To part with Freeman, however, the Braves need to get more. 

The St. Louis Cardinals, who acquired Heyward from the Braves for right-hander Shelby Miller last November, need a boost in their lineup and have a perennially fertile farm system.

The Angels could use a slugging first baseman as they look to protect Mike Trout and ease Albert Pujols into a designated hitter role, though they just spent their trade capital on a deal with these same Braves. 

The Boston Red Sox, who are loaded with minor league talent, might be the best fit, especially if they can somehow dump Hanley Ramirez. New President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has a history of aggressive wheeling and dealing and has already moved to bring in Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres.

If the Red Sox were willing to send back a top prospect like infielder Yoan Moncada and/or one of their young, MLB-ready studs such as shortstop Xander Bogaerts or catcher Blake Swihart, Atlanta should pounce.

Otherwise, keep Freeman in a Braves uniform and construct the rebuild around him.

Every decision a front office makes should ultimately be about winning, either now or in the future. But GMs and executives also have to consider perception and loyalty as they aim to appease the folks who buy the tickets and sip the overpriced beer—as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution spelled out:

…Simmons and Freddie Freeman are the last two fan-favorite players left on the team, the kind of players whose names you see on the back of countless jerseys and T-shirts at every Braves home game, and scattered around road stadiums when the Braves are in town, too.

Fans want to know they can become attached to players and that not every one of them is going to be shipped out. But if a fan got attached to a particular Braves player during the 2013 or 2014 seasons, that player is most likely gone now.

Freeman, on the other hand, is still around—for now. That could change soon, and perhaps it’ll ultimately be for the best.

Before the Braves agree to any deal involving Freeman, however, they’d better be damn sure they’re getting a king’s ransom. Because if they don’t, Atlanta’s loyal subjects might make an exit of their own.

All statistics and contract information current as of Nov. 15 and courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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In the wake of major offseason moves, Atlanta star first baseman Freddie Freeman has been linked to an offeseason move.

Continue for updates.

Gonzalez Comments on Freeman Rumors

Tuesday, Nov. 17

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Freeman “absolutely” will be playing for the Braves on opening day in an interview with MLB Network Radio. 

“I talked to Coppolella,” Gonzalez said. “He said [Freeman] rumors are not true. We’ve never even entertained idea. People have called, he’s listened”

Conflicting Reports Surround Freeman’s Status on Trade Block

Monday, Nov. 16

Jonah Keri of ESPN, citing a source “close to the situation,” reported there is “nothing” to the rumors surrounding Freeman. Keri added the “Braves have had zero conversations about him.” 

On Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the Braves’ willingness to shop Freeman was “the talk of the (Arizona) Fall League.”

Freeman is Face of the Braves During Rebuild

Freeman, 26, hit .276/.370/.471 with 18 home runs and 66 RBI last season. He was limited to 118 games because of injuries, breaking a streak of four straight years with 147 games played. Still, when in the lineup, Freeman was one of a select few bright spots for an Atlanta team that dropped 95 games.

Those struggles look to be the first year of a multiyear rebuild. The Braves shipped 26-year-old Andrelton Simmons, perhaps MLB’s best defensive shortstop, to the Los Angeles Angels on Nov. 12 for a package that included Erick Aybar. Trading Freeman immediately after would send a disconcerting sign to fans who expected the young pair to be part of the team’s next run at contention.

Simmons is under contract through the 2020 season, while Freeman’s $135 million deal ends a year later. At the time, it looked like the Braves were signing Freeman and Simmons as proactive moves to keep their best young players in-house.       

As it stands, it appears those contracts are just being used to make their young players more attractive in potential trade packages.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.

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A.J. Pierzynski’s first season with the Atlanta Braves was a resurgent one, so it’s no surprise the team acted swiftly to bring the veteran catcher back on a short-term pact. 

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Pierzynski and the Braves have agreed to terms on a one-year deal to keep the backstop in Atlanta. The New York Post‘s Joel Sherman confirmed the report.      

Pierzynski’s in the twilight of his career, but if last season was any indication, he’s got some gas left in the tank for a rebuilding Braves team. During the 2015 campaign, the 38-year-old catcher batted .300 with a .339 on-base percentage and .769 OPS in 113 appearances. 

“It’s fun to play,” Pierzynski said before the All-Star break, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. “I still like playing. It’s still enjoyable to compete and see what you can do. All of these guys now are young and so full energy, so when you get a little older you have to figure out when to conserve it and when to use it.”

More than anything, Pierzynski’s ability to provide a strong presence in the clubhouse could be of value to the Braves as they get set to develop young talents throughout the 2016 season. 

As Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s Chuck Garfien explained, Pierzynski’s one of the most seasoned players to ever suit up behind the plate: 

It would be unfair to expect Pierzynski to produce at the plate like he did a season ago, but those statistical gains should be secondary at this point.

The catcher will be a tremendous resource for Atlanta’s stable of young pitchers as the Braves get primed to make a leap in 2017, and the wisdom he imparts should help accelerate the rebuild just a bit. 

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After spending nine years in the Atlanta Braves front office, John Coppolella has been named the team’s general manager. 

The Braves announced the move on Thursday.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Coppolella gains the official title of GM, even though he’s basically been in the role since last September. 

“When the Braves dismissed Frank Wren as their GM on Sept. 21, 2014, they opted not to fill his position immediately,” Bowman wrote. “[President of Baseball Operations John] Hart was given his current title and the assignment to help mold Coppolella as he served as an assistant GM, performing many of the same duties as a GM.”

Bowman noted that Coppolella was the driving force last offseason behind trades involving Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, et al. 

Coppolella has clearly earned the trust of his bosses, as Hart told Bowman last November the new GM was one of the main reasons he wanted to work in Atlanta:

I think Coppy is a big reason why I took this job. I’ve had a lot of people in the [GM] family tree, if you will. I’ve had a lot of young guys who have come through the office [and become GMs]. Coppy is really good. I’m telling you, he is really good. I think you’re going to see a young man who is really going to develop and grow.

Even though the Braves are enduring their worst season (64-94) since 1990, it’s by design. Ownership slashed payroll in an effort to gain more flexibility heading into the 2017 season, when the team’s new ballpark opens in Cobb County. 

Considering how long Coppolella has been with the Braves, no one knows the current talent and minor leaguers better than him. He’s already shown an ability to be aggressive and bold with his moves, even if they aren’t popular with the fanbase. 

Times will be tough for the Braves again in 2016, but Coppolella has talent like Freddie Freeman, Shelby Miller, Julio Teheran and Andrelton Simmons to build around. His biggest challenge will be getting the right young stars around those guys to return the franchise to prominence soon. 

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The Atlanta Braves certainly had a season to forget, and now they need to rebuild for next season.

What moves do they need to make?  How can they get back into the postseason? 

Watch as Stephen Nelson and Bleacher Report MLB Analyst Scott Miller discuss the Braves‘ necessary next steps in the video above.

All stats accurate as of Sept. 8.

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There are moments rare enough that you try everything in your power to keep them etched in your memory—like when Jonny Gomes pitches an inning of relief for the Atlanta Braves.

Yes, Jonny Gomes, the left fielder.

Down 10 runs to the New York Yankees after burning through five pitchers in the first eight innings of Friday’s eventual 15-4 loss, the Braves called Gomes out of the bullpen for his major league pitching debut.

The right-hander’s reaction to giving up a home run to the first batter he faced, Chris Young, was priceless—tipping his hat as the outfielder rounded the bases.

He surrendered back-to-back doubles, while another run crossed the plate on a sac fly. But he ended his appearance on a high note by striking out pitcher Bryan Mitchell.

He pitched steadily in the mid-to-high 60s, grazing as high as 76 mph on one fastball, and even channeled his inner Luis Tiant during the amusing outing.

Gomes was the first position player to pitch for Atlanta since then-catcher Josh Russell did in 1989.

[MLB, h/t Hardball Talk]

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The Atlanta Braves making a headline-grabbing trade? After all they’ve done in the last few months, odds are you’re not surprised to hear that.

Rather, if you’re surprised by anything, it’s the nature of the Braves’ latest swap.

Buzz began to build Friday afternoon that Atlanta was nearing a deal with the Cleveland Indians that would net it All-Stars-turned-duds Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn. Eventually, that buzz led to a trade that looks like this:

If nothing else, this is our first big reminder that, yes, big-ticket deals can still go down after the passing of the July 31 deadline. That’s thanks to MLB‘s waivers system. ‘Tis a complicated affair, but it can get things done all the same.

Beyond that, though, it takes some mental gymnastics to get a grip on this deal.

It makes sense that the Indians would want a player like Johnson. He’s having a lousy year with a .235 average and a .592 OPS. But one thing he’s continued to do in 2015 is hit left-handers well with a .747 OPS. Given his track record in that department, it’s possible the Indians have it in mind to solve their third-base conundrum with a Johnson/Lonnie Chisenhall platoon. Apart from that, trading two players for one allows the Indians to free up a roster space, which is always good.

But where things get interesting, of course, is why the Braves, of all teams, would want to take on the two players in question. Given the particulars, however, their end of the deal also makes sense.

Above all, it’s the contract swap that wouldn’t seem to make sense for Atlanta at first. The Braves now owe Bourn and Swisher a combined $29 million in 2016, whereas Cleveland owes Johnson a minimum of $17.5 million between 2016 and 2017, should the team choose to decline his $10 million option for 2018.

Why would the Braves want to take on more money?

This is where the cash considerations come into play. As Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported, the Indians are kicking in over $10 million to the deal:

If so, the contract swap is basically a wash. Rather than paying Johnson $17.5 million in 2016 and 2017, the Braves will be giving $19 million to Swisher and Bourn in 2016.

The bad news? Atlanta will have less payroll flexibility for its 2016 roster.

The good news? The Braves will have increased payroll flexibility for their 2017 roster, which is part of their ultimate goal. Atlanta will be moving into its new home, SunTrust Park, in 2017, and it’s widely expected that the team is going to do its darnedest to put a winner on the field that year. To that end, having extra payroll flexibility will certainly help.

Mind you, there’s a chance that the Braves’ best-laid plans will be ruined by Swisher and Bourn triggering their vesting options for 2017, in which case Atlanta would be on the hook to pay them $26 million combined. But as Chris Cotillo of SB Nation noted, that’s unlikely to happen:

As much as anything, recent history is a strong indicator that neither Swisher nor Bourn will make it to 550 plate appearances in 2016. Due to a combination of injuries and age—Bourn is 32, and Swisher is 34—both are going to fall well short of 550 trips to the batter’s box for a second straight year in 2015.

But even if Swisher and Bourn find themselves on track for 550 plate appearances next season, that could be welcome news for the Braves. The two veterans are not going to find themselves in such a position unless they’re reasonably healthy and productive, and that’s something the Braves could take advantage of.

He’s been going about it in a unique way, but one thing John Hart has made clear since Atlanta named him its president of baseball operations last fall is that he means to stock the club with as much controllable talent as he can get his hands on. To do so, he’s notably traded Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, Evan Gattis, Craig Kimbrel and Alex Wood since last winter.

And if Hart has his way, both Swisher and Bourn would be next.

Right now, neither Swisher nor Bourn has the trade value required to land young talent. Swisher has OPS’d just .597 since the start of 2014 and is currently on the shelf with knee troubles. Injuries also limited him to 97 games in 2014. Bourn has had issues with injuries throughout the last two seasons as well, and he has struggled with a .648 OPS and only 23 stolen bases in the process.

But at the same time, the Braves know as well as anyone that a healthy Swisher is a good hitter. He showed as much when he OPS’d .763 with 22 home runs in what was a “down” season in 2013. And as it happens, Bourn is showing right now that he’s also a good player when he’s right, as he’s hitting .360 with an .827 OPS since the All-Star break.

Or, if you prefer the sales pitch that Hart gave to Kevin McAlpin of Braves Radio Network: “We’re getting winning players with good makeups. They play the game the right way. I think these guys will fit what it is we’re doing.”

Admittedly, there’s a chance that neither Swisher nor Bourn will rescue his trade value enough for the Braves to get anything for them in 2016. But if nothing else, Atlanta is better off wagering on two guys with strong track records turning it around next season than it would have been wagering on one guy without a strong track record (Johnson) doing so. 

If it works out, great. The Braves will then have two veterans on their hands whom they can deal for more controllable talent.

If it doesn’t work out? Oh well. At least Atlanta will still be getting that 2017 payroll flexibility no matter what.

It’s hard to say that the Braves have made a brilliant move. But since they’re shedding some future payroll while taking on a couple of potentially valuable reclamation projects, they’re at least making a worthwhile gamble.

This may be one of the stranger deals you’re ever going to see, but it’s a sensible one.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted/linked.

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The Atlanta Braves and manager Fredi Gonzalez have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with the team for at least one more season.   

Per the Braves’ official Twitter account, Gonzalez’s deal has been extended through 2016 and includes a team option for 2017. 

Braves president of baseball operations John Hart was recently asked about Gonzalez’s performance and status this season, as the team went through various roster changes, by Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

He’s a winning man, he loves and cares about the Braves and he’s done a superior job. I was candid with Fredi: “I know you’re in your last year (of a contract). We’re making a run-through here, and we’ll make the call when it’s appropriate.” But Fredi is always ready to help figure out the solution to a problem.

Hart wasn’t ready to make any strong declarations at that point, but it seems he and ownership felt Gonzalez’s work over the past 4.5 years warranted at least one more year on the team’s bench. 

Per ESPN Stats & Info, this has been Gonzalez’s worst season since taking over as Atlanta’s manager in 2011:

Even though that wouldn’t seem to warrant an extension, keep in mind the Braves traded away Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, Evan Gattis and Jason Heyward before the team’s first game this season. They have also been without star first baseman Freddie Freeman since June 17 due to a wrist injury. 

Given all of those losses, it’s a wonder that the Braves are 42-47 heading into the season’s second half. Gonzalez hasn’t been given a long-term commitment, so the onus is still on him to prove he can lead this team as it moves into a new stadium after next season. 

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis made an error during the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals, ending his record-setting streak of 398 consecutive games in the outfield without making an error, per ESPN Stats & Info.

The miscue allowed Nationals outfielder Denard Span to advance to second base on a leadoff single and later led to an unearned run on a groundout by Nationals infielder Yunel Escobar.

Markakis‘ previous error came back on Aug. 10, 2012, while he was playing for the Baltimore Orioles. He recently set an MLB record for an outfielder when he made it to 393 straight games without an error, breaking the old mark of 392 set by Darren Lewis to start his career between 1990 and 1994, per Ian Denomme of Yahoo! Sports.

Despite the record and his two Gold Gloves (2011 and 2014), Markakis isn’t universally recognized as one of the game’s top defensive right fielders—largely because his performance in advanced metrics has been inconsistent.

In his first Gold Glove season (2011), for example, he finished just 15th among 18 qualified right fielders in ultimate zone rate per 150 games (UZR/150), according to FanGraphs.

Although that ranking was fairly typical of his later years in Baltimore, the 31-year-old is eighth among 21 qualified right fielders in UZR/150 this season after finishing fourth out of 16 last year, per FanGraphs.

He may still draw occasional criticism for playing overly conservative defense to avoid mistakes, but it seems Markakis has struck a nice balance the past two years.

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The Atlanta Braves have always put a focus on drafting, scouting and developing within the organization.

New president of baseball operations John Hart has put an even greater emphasis on the draft and restocking the farm system. Hart prioritizes the draft, as evidenced by the Braves’ six selections in the first 89 picks of this year’s draft —the most of any MLB team.

The Braves will be looking to use those picks in the upcoming June 8 MLB draft to further upgrade the talent in the organization and build toward the future.

As the 2015 MLB draft approaches, let’s take a look back at the past nine first-round picks for the Atlanta Braves.

Note: This list excludes supplemental picks.

Begin Slideshow