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Braves News
Braves announce Minor League Coaching Staffs
The Atlanta Braves announced their minor league coaching staffs on Tuesday. Five of the six minor league teams will be led by managers that were with the Braves system last year. The biggest change comes as Jonathan Schuerholz transitions from Rome's manager into a role in the front office.
Brian Snitker (Triple-A Gwinnett), Aaron Holbert (Double-A Mississippi), Luis Salazar (Class A Advanced Carolina), Randy Ingle (Class A Rome) and Rocket Wheeler (Rookie-level Danville) have all accepted invitations to serve as managers within the organization again next year.
With Jonathan Schuerholz transitioning from his duties as Rome's manager to an assistant player-development director within Atlanta's front office, the Braves have welcomed Robinson Cancel into the organization to manage the Gulf Coast League Braves club, which performed under Wheeler's direction this past season.
Wait....Craig Kimbrel's still a Brave?
Rob Neyer writing for Fox Sports touches on whether or not the Braves should trade Craig Kimbrel this offseason and touches on the confusion over what Atlanta's plan is for next season.
I do agree that the Braves should trade him, since they're apparently not all that interested in competing for a playoff spot in the next year or two. Or maybe they are? Trading Jason Heyward and trying to trade Justin Upton suggests one thing, signing Nick Markakis another. But it sure seems like they're targeting 2017, when they move into their new mallpark, as the year to compete again.
The Ervin Santana gambit
Russell Carleton writes that what looked like a desperation move by the Atlanta Braves to sign Ervin Santana last summer ended up paying off nicely for Atlanta.
If the Ervin Santana experience teaches us something, it's that a team signing a qualifying free agent is signing a player (and losing a draft pick), but is also signing the right to make that same player a qualifying offer when the contract ends. And the shorter the term of the deal, the more likely it is that a team will want to do that.
MLB News
The 5 surprising win-now teams of the offseason
SB Nation's Grant Brisbee discusses five teams that are suddenly in win-now mode.
Brian Wilson designated for assignment by Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated Brian Wilson for assignment on Tuesday despite $9.5 million remaining on his contract.