Atlanta Braves Clippings Thursday, December 17, 2015 Braves.com Braves make deal with catcher Flowers official By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | December 16th, 2015 ATLANTA -- Immediately after being non-tendered by the White Sox two weeks ago, Atlanta-area native Tyler Flowers began looking forward to a potential homecoming. The veteran catcher received his wish last week when he and the Braves agreed to a two-year, $5.3 million contract. The Braves officially announced the completion of the deal on Wednesday afternoon. Outfielder Dian Toscano was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Flowers, who is now set to share the Braves' catching duties with his former White Sox teammate A.J. Pierzynski. "This turned out maybe even better than I had hoped," Flowers said. "Atlanta is home to me, and the [Braves] organization is somewhat home to me as well. When I was non-tendered, I was hoping the Braves would be interested because I knew I would love an opportunity to return." After being born and raised in suburban Atlanta, Flowers experienced the thrill of being selected by his hometown team in the 33rd round of the 2005 Draft. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound catcher steadily enhanced his stock during the three seasons he played in Atlanta's farm system. He was one of the key pieces the Braves used to acquire Javier Vazquez from the White Sox on Dec. 4, 2008. With the addition of Flowers, the Braves have gained an opportunity to lessen the workload placed on the 38-year-old Pierzynski, who logged 104 starts as Atlanta's catcher this year. They were not comfortable pairing Pierzynski for a second straight season with Christian Bethancourt, the once highly regarded prospect who fell out of favor before being traded to the Padres last week. Over the past week, there has been reason to wonder how the Braves would make room for Flowers on the 40-man roster. They answered this question by outrighting Toscano, a Cuban outfielder who missed this past season because he never gained clearance from the United States government to begin playing. Flowers worked alongside Pierzynski when the young catcher experienced short stints at the Major League level in 2009 and '10. He then served as Pierzynski's primary backup with the White Sox during both of the next two seasons. While serving as the White Sox primary catcher over the past three seasons, Flowers batted .228 with 34 homers and a .656 OPS. The 29-year-old veteran hit .239 with nine homers and a .652 OPS over 361 plate appearances this past season. Flowers has been lauded for his pitch-framing skills, but some of his defensive numbers slipped this past year. He recorded a 26.4 catcher-caught- stealing percentage and was charged with nine passed balls in 1,052 innings during the 2014 season. But he had a 14.5 CCS percentage and was charged with 15 passed balls this year. The Braves were seeking another catching option because of the concerns they developed in relation to Bethancourt, who had entered this year considered to be their catcher of the future. Bethancourt caught eight of the 19 opponents who attempted to steal against him, but he was charged with eight passed balls in just 357 innings. While Bethancourt's strong arm provides some value, his 44.1 innings-to-passed-ball ratio has been a problem. Flowers has recorded an 81.8 innings-to-passed-ball ratio over the past three seasons. Braves announce 2016 Minor League staffs Triple-A manager Snitker set for 40th season with organization By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | December 16th, 2015 ATLANTA -- Brian Snitker will spend his 40th season with the Braves organization, continuing his role as Triple-A Gwinnett's manager. His longtime friend Randy Ingle will remain with Class A Rome in his 25th season as a manager in Atlanta's farm system. The appointments of Snitker and Ingle were revealed on Wednesday afternoon, when the Braves announced their Minor League coaching staffs for the 2016 season. Five of the six managers from 2015 will return. The only newcomer to this role is Nestor Perez, who will manage the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League club after spending the past three seasons as an assistant hitting coach with Rookie-level Danville and Rome. Snitker began his professional playing career with the Braves as a 21-year-old catcher on the 1977 Rookie-level Kingsport team that included a 19- year-old outfielder named Albert Hall. Snitker played for four seasons, then he accepted his first managerial gig with the Braves in 1982, when he skippered a Class A Anderson club that included a young pitcher named Zane Smith. Along with multiple stints as a member of Atlanta's Major League coaching staff, Snitker has spent 19 seasons as a manager in the Braves' farm system. He will be entering his third straight season as Gwinnett's manager. Snitker's coaching staff will remain intact, as Marty Reed will return to serve as his pitching coach and John Moses will continue his role as Gwinnett's hitting coach. The team's trainer will be Ricky Alcantara, who served as the organization's Double-A trainer for the past eight seasons. Ingle's days as a manager in Atlanta's system date back to 1990, when he began the first of three consecutive seasons skippering Rookie-level Pulaski. This will be his second straight season at Rome. His coaching staff will include hitting coach Bobby Moore and pitching coach Dan Meyer, who spent this past season as the organization's Minor League rehabilitation pitching coordinator. After spending the past five years serving as the manager for Atlanta's Class A Advanced team, Luis Salazar will spend this upcoming season as Double-A Mississippi's manager. Salazar will be joined by pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn and hitting coach Garey Ingram. Rocket Wheeler will spend his 14th season as a Minor League manager in the organization with the Class A Advanced Carolina club. Wheeler spent this past season leading the Danville club. His new assignment will have him working with pitching coach Derrick Lewis and hitting coach Carlos Mendez. Robinson Cancel has been appointed to serve as Danville's manager after filling that role with the GCL club in 2015. Cancel's staff will include pitching coach Gabe Luckert and hitting coach Ivan Cruz. As Perez transitions to managing at the professional level for the first time, he will be flanked by two respected coaching veterans. His coaching staff for the GCL Braves will include pitching coach Mike Alvarez and hitting coach Rick Albert. Atlanta Journal-Constitution Snitker back as Triple-A manager in 40th season with Braves By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Triple-A Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker will be back for his 40th season in the Braves organization and fourth in his current position, returning along with Gwinnett pitching coach Marty Reed and hitting coach John Moses. The Braves announced Wednesday their managers and coaches for all minor-league affiliates for the 2016 season, including four managerial changes: Luis Salazar moves up to Double-A from high-A Carolina; Rocket Wheeler goes to Carolina from short-season Single-A Danville; Robinson Cancel moves up to Danville from the Gulf Coast rookie league, and Nestor Perez takes over the Gulf Coast team in his first managerial stint. Salazar enters his 13th season as a minor league manager including six seasons in the Braves organization. Wheeler will be in his 14th season as a Braves minor league manager and second stint at the high-A level. All 18 coaches in the organization also served as Braves minor league coaches in 2015, with 11 returning to their same positions including Double-A Mississippi pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn and hitting coach Garey Ingram. Trainer Ricky Alcantara moves up to the Triple-A staff after eight seasons at Mississippi. Braves outright Toscano to open spot for catcher Flowers By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution When the Braves made the Tyler Flowers contract official Wednesday and added the catcher to their previously full 40-man roster, they created a spot by outrighting outfielder Dian Toscano to Triple-A Gwinnett. Flowers, from Marietta and drafted by the Braves a decade ago, agreed Dec. 8 to a two-year, $5.3 million contract that includes a $4 million team option with a $300,000 buyout. He can also earn up to $1.5 million in incentives each year in the deal. He became a free agent after being non- tendered by the White Sox last month. Flowers will split catching duties with A.J. Pierzynski, who turns 39 on Dec. 30 and re-signed a one-year deal with the Braves after a resurgent season in 2015. Toscano, 26, is the Cuban defector who signed a four-year, $6 million free-agent contract with the Braves in December 2014. He was forced to sit out the entire 2015 season due to governmental red tape before he was finally cleared last month to begin playing. He wasn’t paid his $800,000 salary in 2015 while on the restricted list, and is under contract for three more seasons. After sitting out a year, Toscano has struggled early in the Puerto Rican Winter League, batting .200 (5-for-25) with one double, two walks and 10 strikeouts in six games before Wednesday. No Braves vs. minor league ‘stars’ game this spring By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution With such a high volume of newly acquired prospects entering their first spring training with the Braves, the organization has decided to skip its end-of-spring game between the major league team and top prospects.