The Daily Chop: Freddie Freeman tops list, Evan Gattis and more

MLB.com’s Mark Bowman released his ranking of the five best first baseman in Atlanta Braves history on Tuesday and there is no surprise that Freddie Freeman tops the list. Freeman has been one of the best first baseman in the National League over the past several seasons and has easily cemented himself as the best in franchise history while producing a 130 OPS+ or better in seven of his nine full seasons in the majors.

Bowman lists Joe Adcock second and Fred McGriff third. I wasn’t as familiar with Adcock but his stats are impressive as he ranks third among Braves first baseman with a 26.2 fWAR. McGriff played spent what amounted to four full seasons with Atlanta but played a key part in team’s good run through the 90s. Fred Tenney and Chris Chambliss round out the list.

More Braves News

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that the league-wide initiative of financial support for Minor League players has been extended through May 31st.

Former Braves catcher/outfielder Evan Gattis confirmed that his playing career is over to David O’Brien and Eric O’Flaherty during an appearance on the 755 Is Real Podcast. Gattis last played in the majors in 2018 with the Astros and sat out the 2019 season. He carved out a six-year career hitting .248/.300/.476 with 139 career home runs.

Jair Jurrjens looked like an ace in the making when he made his debut with the Atlanta Braves but a knee injury ultimately derailed his career.

Flashback to Opening Day in 2008 and a remarkably crummy loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Seriously, this game had a little bit of everything.

MLB News

The NCAA will grant a universal extra year of eligibility to all spring sports athletes. This will now present an option for several draft hopefuls to return to school for another season.

Another detail of the agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association involving the competitive balance tax has emerged. If a season takes place then the CBT obligation will be pro-rated. If in the even there is a cancelled season, then each team’s pre-2020 CBT status would carry forward per Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.

MLB.com put together a list of the five pitchers with the nastiest curveballs which is headlined by Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw.

Phillies reliever Seranthony Dominguez is weighing his options after doctors have recommended that he undergo Tommy John Surgery. There is reportedly some uncertainty in the test results and Dominguez is hoping that rest and rehabilitation will help his situation. He is planning to pursue further testing once a second Spring Training begins.