The Daily Chop: Josh Donaldson earns Player’s Choice Award

While the offseason looms, awards season is also on the horizon. Several Atlanta Braves players were in the news on Thursday as awards and awards finalists were announced. Josh Donaldson shook off back-to-back injury plagued years to to turn in a vintage performance in his first year in Atlanta. On Thursday, Donaldson was named as The Player’s Choice Award’s Comeback Player of the Year.

Donaldson was also named as a Gold Glove finalist along with teammate Ozzie Albies. Braves fans might have been expecting big offensive contributions from Donaldson but he surprised everyone with his performance with the glove in 2019.

• Our season in review series continued on Thursday with a closer look at relievers Chris Martin and Darren O’Day.

2019 World Series

• The Houston Astros reversed course on Thursday firing assistant general manager Brandon Taubman three days after news broke of an incident following the ALCS finale. The team issued a statement and admitted that they were wrong in the previous assessment of the situation and apologized directly to Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein.
• Astros bench coach Joe Espada used Thursday’s off day to travel to San Francisco for his second interview for the Giants vacant managerial position.
• Nationals manager Dave Martinez announced Thursday that Patrick Corbin will start Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday. Anibal Sanchez will get the nod in Game 3 when the series shifts to Washington on Friday.

MLB News

• The Philadelphia Phillies settled on a new manager agreeing to a three-year deal with former Yankees skipper Joe Girardi.
• With Girardi now in Philly, the Mets’ search for a new manager will focus on a group that includes Carlos Beltran and Eduardo Perez.
• The San Diego Padres have also reportedly settled on their new manager in Jayce Tingler. Tingler held a number of positions in the Rangers organization and is viewed as a quality candidate. Braves third base coach Ron Washington was also reportedly a finalist for the position.
• Tampa Bay Rays executive Chaim Bloom has emerged as the favorite to become the Red Sox next general manager per a report by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Bloom currently serves as the Rays’ senior Vice President of Baseball Operations.
• Sabermetric pioneer Bill James is leaving his advisor and consultant position with the Red Sox. James has worked with Boston since 2002.
• The Cincinnati Reds announced on Thursday that Alan Zinter will serve as the club’s new hitting coach. The club also announced that Donnie Ecker will serve as assistant hitting coach and director of hitting. Zinter replaces Turner Ward who was let go earlier this month after just one season with the club.
• Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery next week. Hicks missed part of the season with the injury and was recommended that he get surgery. However, he rehabbed his way back onto New York’s ALCS roster but will undergo the procedure now that the season is over.
• MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports that Phillies right-hander Jake Arrieta will not opt out of the final year of his contract. It would have been a surprise had he chosen to opt out on the heels of a season in which he struggled with bone spurs in his elbow. Arrieta is owed $20 million for the 2020 season.