Clippings Thursday, November 12, 2015 Braves.com

Braves open to talks about Simmons

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 12:19 AM ET

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Braves are listening to some clubs that have shown interest in , but this does not mean they are actively shopping the young , who is widely considered one of the game's top defensive assets.

Multiple sources confirmed that the Braves have discussed Simmons during this week's General Managers Meetings, but although talks are seemingly ongoing with at least one club, a deal did not seem to be imminent late Wednesday night.

Simmons is a multiple winner who has been described by general as the "best defensive player in the history of the game." His value is enhanced by the fact that he is under contract through the 2020 season.

Though the Braves do not necessarily want to part ways with Simmons, they recognize that he is one of the few chips they could use to net a big return, one that could provide them the significant offensive piece they need. Thus they are expected to continue listening to offers.

Pierzynski to return to Braves on 1-year deal

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | November 11th, 2015

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Braves feared that the success A.J. Pierzynski had in 2015 would lead him to agree to a more-lucrative deal elsewhere. But before seeing how high his price might go, Pierzynski agreed to return to Atlanta on Wednesday

Multiple Major League sources confirmed Pierzynski has agreed to a one-year deal that is pending a physical exam. The Braves have not yet confirmed the deal, and the financial specifics were not revealed.

Pierzynski certainly proved to be a bargain for the Braves this past season, as he made approximately $2.7 million while hitting .300 with nine home runs and a .769 OPS. The 38-year-old veteran served as the Braves' starting in 104 games.

There is obviously some reason to wonder whether this past season's heavy workload could have a negative effect on his production next year. But for now, the Braves are planning for Pierzynski to split time with Christian Bethancourt. If the Braves are able to trade Bethancourt, there is a chance they still could continue to pursue free-agent catcher Chris Iannetta.

Pierzynski entered this past season targeted to serve as Atlanta's backup. But he replaced Bethancourt as the starter less than two weeks into the season.

Pierzynski seemed to thoroughly enjoy his chance to play for the Braves, the team that he followed throughout his childhood. Spring Training provided him a short commute from the Orlando-area neighborhood he shares with Braves president of operations .

Though Pierzynski has been described as a polarizing figure throughout his career, his no-nonsense leadership skills provided definite value in the Braves' clubhouse. Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz were among the young who expressed their appreciation for having a chance to work with Pierzynski.

Pierzynski is a veteran of 18 Major League seasons (with the Twins, Giants, White Sox, Rangers, Red Sox, Cardinals and Braves). He is a career .282 hitter with 186 home runs and 886 RBIs, and is the active leader in games caught with 1,872, which is 11th on the all-time list.

Simmons named Defensive Player of Year

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | November 11th, 2015

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Shortstop Andrelton Simmons extended the near-annual tradition of the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award being given to a Braves player when he took home the honor on Wednesday.

Simmons became the third different Braves player to be named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year since the award was first presented after the 2012 season. won the inaugural award, and gained the honor last year. The only non- Braves player to win the award was former D-backs right fielder in 2013.

"I think [Simmons] is the best defensive player in the history of the game," Braves general manager John Coppolella said. "I think he's somebody who brings so much value. When you've got young pitching behind him, outs are outs and hits are outs."

Many Braves fans were not happy on Tuesday night, when Simmons was not named the 's Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner at shortstop for a third consecutive season. That honor went to Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford.

But there wasn't any reason to bicker on Wednesday night, when Wilson gave Simmons its top honor.

Wilson determined its Defensive Player of the Year Award winners with a formula that includes traditional defensive stats, advanced metrics and information gathered by Inside Edge.

Simmons led all NL this past year in Defensive Runs Saved (25), Ultimate Zone Rating (17.3) and FanGraphs' Defensive Runs Above Average (23.9), which accounts for fielding runs and positional adjustment. Since the start of the 2013 season, Simmons has been awarded a Major League-best 94 DRS. Heyward ranks second with 69. Cincinnati's Zack Cozart and Crawford are tied for second among NL shortstops during that span with 30.

Braves could go with Garcia at third base

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | November 11th, 2015

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- At some point over the next couple of months, the Braves could acquire a via trade or determine that they are no longer comfortable with their plan to have Hector Olivera make the transition from third base to left field.

So, there is some uncertainty. But as the Braves move toward the 2016 season with the hope that Olivera will make a successful transition, it appears they are quite certain that they'd rather take a chance on Adonis Garcia's glove than take a gamble on one of the free agents available in this offseason's thin third-base market.

"It's not set in stone that [Garcia] will be the third baseman," Braves general manager John Coppolella said. "He might share time with Olivera there. There are other guys that we like that could get opportunities there. But right now, I think he's earned first crack at it."

Olivera and Garcia have known each other for close to 30 years, dating back to their childhood days in Cuba. While Garcia, 30, came to the United States in 2012 and spent each of the past four seasons in the Yankees' Minor League system, Olivera, also 30, is still in the midst of making the transition that was necessitated when he came to the U.S. earlier this year after becoming one of the top targets on the international market.

Over the course of the past year, Olivera has exited Cuba, signed a $62.5 million deal with the Dodgers and been traded to the Braves. At the same time that he was attempting to get used to his new lifestyle, the slugger also was making the transition from to third baseman.

The Braves believe putting Olivera in left field will relieve him of some of the stress he might have felt while attempting to find comfort at third base. He began playing left field last week in Puerto Rico, and the early reports have been favorable.

If Olivera sticks in left, Coppolella has indicated that he could fill third base with Garcia and adding somebody like free agent Kelly Johnson to serve as a left-handed-hitting backup option. Johnson began this season back in his hometown of Atlanta and remained with the Braves until being traded with Juan Uribe to the Mets in July.

When Johnson and Uribe were traded, the Braves called Garcia up from -A Gwinnett and used him as their primary third baseman over the next month. Garcia ended up hitting 10 home runs in 191 at-bats -- making him just the second player in Braves history to reach that total in fewer than 200 at-bats.

There is certainly reason to doubt the lasting power of his homer rate. Garcia totaled just 21 homers over 1,114 Minor League at-bats in the U.S. He also primarily served as an before transitioning to third base this year. His inexperience at the position showed, as he committed eight errors over the final 18 starts he made at third base.

But for now, the Braves view him as a legitimate candidate to begin next season as their starting third baseman. "This guy had -digit home runs in less than 200 at-bats," Coppolella said. "I know whenever he came to the plate, I was pretty excited. You always felt something good was going to happen. It's something where I felt he earned an opportunity."

Former teammates reflect on their friend Hanson

Onetime Braves remembered for warm heart, fun-loving personality

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | 9:10 AM ET

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- As the week has progressed, Tim Hudson does not believe he has gone a waking minute without thinking about Tommy Hanson. Images and memories of the big red-headed pitcher have constantly danced in Hudson's mind since early Monday morning, when Kris Medlen delivered an unexpected call with an unwanted message.

"He couldn't hardly get two words out when he called me," Hudson said. "He was all shook up as you could imagine. That was his best friend. [Hanson] was good friends with a lot of people, but he and Kris were essentially brothers."

Still basking in the glory of the celebration he and his Royals teammates had enjoyed less than a week earlier, Medlen received a call on Sunday night that led him to rush from Augusta, Ga., to the Atlanta-area hospital where Hanson lay in a coma. The chilling and sobering experience reached a tragic conclusion late Monday night, when the 29-year-old Hanson was pronounced dead.

"I've never experienced anything like this in my life," Peter Moylan said. "I've always been the guy that has had to support other people. I've never been the guy who has thought, 'This is really going to me really hard.'"

As Hudson, Medlen and Moylan have spent this week grieving the loss of a beloved friend, they have reached out to some of their other former Braves teammates to reminisce about the times they shared with Hanson and to simply take advantage of the chance to remind the other how much they savor their friendships.

"I got two text messages from friends I had with the Braves that just said, 'I love you and I am thinking about you,'" former Braves catcher David Ross said. "You don't take that kind of stuff for granted. It kind of puts everything in perspective. It's nice to come back to reality and not care so much about baseball wins and losses. It's about the human beings that we get to come in contact with."

Medlen and Hanson developed a close friendship as they broke into the professional ranks in 2006. They made their respective Major League debuts with the 2009 Braves approximately three weeks apart and immediately earned the acceptance of veterans like Hudson.

"You play baseball and you have an opportunity to bond with people in this game," Hudson said. "There is a brotherhood in this game. I think Tommy had a special bond with a lot of people he played with in the game. He was the kind of person that you almost instantaneously hit it off with him. He was easy to get along with. He was that kind of free spirit that just made everything right and just made everything good."

Hanson enjoyed immediate success, finishing third in the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year voting. He posted a 2.99 ERA through the 72 career starts he made before he began battling a back ailment that significantly altered his career. A rough 2012 season led the Braves to trade him to the Angels, who saw him make the final 15 Major League appearances of his career in 2013.

Along with dealing with the injury and the trade, Hanson was devastated during that 2013 season when his younger brother suddenly died. He took some time off to clear his head, but those who knew him best realize he never fully recovered from the pain.

"He took it hard, obviously, but I don't think anybody really knew how hard, because that was the kind of guy he was," Moylan said. "He was more concerned about everybody else than he was himself. He was always making sure everyone else was all right and in the right place."

Though an official cause of death has not been determined, the rescue crew that attempted to revive Hanson early Sunday morning wrote "overdose" on the report. While that has only spiked the initial speculation that drugs played a part in his untimely death, Hanson's friends and former teammates are hoping fans remember that we may never know exactly what led to this death.

"I'm sure there are going to be people that are going to say he was doing this or he was doing that," Hudson said. "At any point of anyone's life, they could be dealing with things that some people just can't understand. So don't be so quick to judge somebody with something like this."

"When you sit back, it just guts your heart," Moylan said. "You start to think about what you've done and think, 'Should I have called him or reached out to him?' But I try to forget about that kind of stuff and remember the hilarious times that we ended up having while we were together."

Hudson is among the many who have chosen to simply reflect on the many good times he shared with Hanson, who had a charitable heart, a fun- loving personality and a smile that seemed to provide comfort to both friends and strangers.

"He was the guy you wanted to have around because he had that infectious smile," Moylan said. "He was just a genuine, warmhearted guy that would do anything for you and his family." Instead of simply showing up at charity events, Hanson attempted to personally touch the lives of those involved. At a 2011 bowling event held in Atlanta, he did not simply show up to sign autographs for military members who had just returned to the United States. He went lane-to-lane carrying on conversations with the soldiers and their family members.

While attending a charity concert the Hudson family staged in Auburn, Ala., Hanson warmed the heart of a young cancer patient when he asked her for an autograph.

"Anybody who truly knew him knew how sweet of a guy he was," Hudson said. "He was always there for everybody. He always had that big smile and supported anything that anybody ever had to do and he did it with gratitude. It makes me sick. My heart hurts real bad."

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Pierzynski agrees to re-sign with Braves

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Trying to re-sign A.J. Pieryznski was one of three stated priorities for Braves officials entering this offseason. They can focus on the other two now after agreeing to terms Wednesday on a one-year, $3 million contract with Pierzynski that will be finalized once he passes a physical.

Pierzynski, who’ll turn 39 in December, will enter his 19th major league season needing just 11 hits to reach 2,000. He’s a career .282 hitter with 186 homers, 886 RBIs and a .745 OPS in 1,978 games and more than 7,556 plate appearances.

The contract includes a $1 million signing bonus and $2 million base salary, with a chance to earn up to an additonal $1 million through incentives.

Strengthening the bullpen and determining whether to add a proven starting pitcher are the remaining priorities for Braves general manager John Coppolella and president of baseball operations John Hart.

Pierzynski signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Braves last winter, when teams weren’t exactly lining up to sign an aging catcher coming off a career-worst season, and with a reputation for being prickly and ornery at times.

Some in the Braves organization were a bit apprehensive about signing him, but within the first few weeks of spring training he had already convinced everyone in camp that it was a wise decision. The Braves got leadership and a steadying presence from him behind the plate, and offense that surpassed all expectations.

He hit .300 with nine homers and 49 RBIs in 436 plate appearances and 113 games, including 104 starts at catcher. Among major league with at least 400 plate appearances, Pierzynski had the second-highest batting average (behind ’s .318)) and a .769 OPS that ranked fifth, ahead of Yankees (and former Braves) catcher Brian McCann (.756).

Pierzynski threw out 24 percent of opposing base-stealers, right at his career average.

“This guy’s coming off a big year,” Hart said Monday on the first day of the General Managers Meetings. “We’ll see – he’ll see – he probably wants to determine what his market is. I think in his heart, I know he’d love to come back to the Braves. I know we’d like to have him back. I think there’s interest both ways. But you just never know. I mean, somebody may jump out there, and we’re going to have certain limitations to where we can go.”

But two days later, the sides had a deal. Again. Hart and Pierzynski have known each other for more than 20 years, since the catcher worked at a summer camp Hart ran for many years in Orlando, where they both live. Playing for the Braves offers Pierzysnki the opportunity to live at home during spring training and pick up his kids after school, perks that he valued a great deal last year.

He also went an entire spring training without being asked by manager Fredi Gonzalez to make a single road trip.

The Braves signed him a year ago to serve as mentor and backup to rookie Christian Bethancourt. But while Bethancourt struggled some at the plate and behind it during spring training and the first month of the season, Pierzynski excelled offensively and did a good job handling a young pitching staff.

By late April he had unseated Bethancourt as the primary catcher, and Bethancourt eventually was demoted to Triple-A for two months.

The Braves still have Bethancourt and say they aren’t ready to give up on him. They could enter the 2016 season with Pierzynski and Bethancourt lined up to split the catching duties in some arrangement to be determined.

They could also listen to trade offers for Bethancourt and look to add another backup catcher, but that seems less likely given what they’ve invested over the years in Bethancourt and the fact that his trade value is not real high now after the rookie hit .200 with two homers and a .225 on-base percentage and a .515 OPS in 160 plate appearances. Braves’ Simmons wins Wilson award as majors’ top overall defender

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

BOCA RATON, Fla. – One night after being passed over for a Gold Glove Award, Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons was named the overall 2015 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year for all of , regardless of position.

Simmons, who was a unanimous winner of the Fielding Bible Award last month as the best defensive shortstop in the majors – the third consecutive year he won that honor unanimously – was similarly named Wednesday night as Wilson’s best defensive shortstop in the majors by Wilson for a third year in a row.

Then he topped that by collecting his first Wilson overall award as the top defensive player at any position in either league.

Simmons, widely regarded as the best defensive shortstop since Ozzie Smith and , has won the Fielding Bible and Wilson awards as the majors’ best shortstop in all three of his full major league seasons. He had won consecutive National League shortstop Gold Gloves before the surprising announcement Tuesday that the ’ Brandon Crawford had edged him out for this year’s award.

Three-fourths of the Gold Glove votes come from the managers and coaches in each respective league, and there have been notable cases over the years when a player with more impressive offensive statistics beat out a player generally considered the better defensive player, even though offense is not supposed to factor into the equation at all.

There was some speculation after Tuesday’s announcement that Crawford’s far-superior offensive production had helped him beat out Simmons for the Gold Glove, although there is also no disputing the fact that Crawford is also an outstanding defensive shortstop.

Would Braves deal Simmons? Sure

By Mark Bradley

Jonah Keri of what used to be Grantland tweeted last night that the Atlanta Braves were discussing a trade with a team. of CBS Sports subsequently reported that the NL West team in question is San Diego.

This should surprise no one who has followed the Braves over the past 12 months. Under John Hart and especially John Coppolella, they’re open to trading anybody. That’s not to say they’re determined to rid themselves of Simmons. They value him hugely. Talks regarding the great defender would be a seller’s market. The Braves wouldn’t move him unless they receive a blown-us-away offer. Which they might.

More intriguing is the word that the Padres are again involved. You’d have thought that San Diego’s A.J. Preller would have learned his lesson after making not one but two massive trades with Hart/Coppolella last offseason, neither of which worked to the Padres’ advantage. The first involved ; the second involved Craig Kimbrel and the other Upton.

The Braves wound up with , Cameron Maybin, Matt Wisler, Max Fried, Dustin Peterson, and the draft pick that would become Austin Riley, already considered the best young bat in the Braves’ chain. With those two trades, the Braves restocked their farm system and found big-league two starters (J. Peterson and Maybin) to boot. The Padres wound up with a bloated payroll and a team that went 74-88, and now J. Upton is a free agent.

If you’re the Padres, do you really want to trade with the Braves again? (Read Rany Jazayerli’s Grantland story “The Teardown Artist” for a searing take on how Preller’s deals gutted his team.) The primary beneficiary of such largesse was the Braves. Those trades were so lopsided that Hart/Coppolella might have poisoned the well.

Making trades in baseball is a tricky thing. You want to get back more than you give, sure, but you don’t want to embarrass the other guy because you might need him again. Already Hart/Coppolella have fleeced Preller and Arizona’s Dave Stewart, who was lampooned for dealing the prospect Touki Toussaint for the utility infielder Phil Gosselin and cash. The Braves don’t need to keep winning every trade 80-20. In the interest of future business, they’d settle for winning a few 55-45.

As for Simmons: I don’t know that this trade will happen with anybody, least of all the Padres. But I do know this: We shouldn’t be shocked if it does. The Braves like Simmons, but they like Ozzie Albies, too.

Liberty Media plans new Braves stock

By Tim Tucker

Liberty Media, the Braves’ publicly traded owner, said today it will create a new tracking stock for the baseball team.

Such stocks trade as separate securities to the rest of the company. A tracking stock called “Liberty Braves Group” will include the Braves “and certain assets and liabilities associated with the … (team’s) stadium and mixed use development project, cash and a note obligation in the amount of approximately $165 million from the Liberty Braves Group to the Liberty Media Group relating to funds borrowed and used for investment in the development project,” Liberty Media said.

The company added: “The subscription rights to acquire shares of Series C Liberty Braves tracking stock are expected to be issued to raise capital to repay the Intergroup Note and for working capital purposes. … Liberty expects the subscription rights to be publicly traded, once the exercise price has been established.”

Liberty also announced the creation of two other tracking stocks: the Liberty Media Group and the Liberty Sirius Group.

“We expect this recapitalization to highlight each tracking stock group’s operations, and the financial performance of its attributed assets, provide greater investor choice, and enable targeted capital raising while maintaining an optimal capital structure for Liberty,” Greg Maffei, Liberty President & CEO, said in a statement.

Please check back for more on this developing story.

Nearly 38 years ago, began a legendary career in Atlanta

'The youngest manager in the National League and the youngest in Braves' Atlanta history'

By Fiza Pirani - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

On Nov. 22, 1977, the Braves hired Bobby Cox to manage and rebuild the young team, which included budding stars Dale Murphy and Bob Horner.

Cox was dismissed in 1981 after numerous losing seasons. After a few years as manager in Toronto, he returned to Atlanta in 1986 as general manager and took over as the clubhouse leader from 1990 to 2010 — one of the franchise's most successful periods.

During his career, Cox led Atlanta to14 straight division titles from 1991 to 2005. He led the team to four World Series appearances, capturing the title in 1995.

In 2010, Cox announced he would retire after 25 seasons as Braves manager.

The retired icon was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame four years later.

"Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think this could happen," Cox said in his Hall of Fame speech. "But I'm sure glad it did."

The story below is a peek at the anticipation surrounding Cox's arrival in Atlanta. It originally appeared in The Atlanta Constitution on Nov. 21, 1977.

Cox Is Headed Atlanta's Way

By Wayne Minshew

What does your travel itinerary say for this week, Bobby Cox?

Pause.

"All I can say is I'm packed," Cox said from his Selma, Calif. home Sunday night, "and I'll catch a plane tomorrow ... for somewhere."

Somewhere in Georgia?

"Yep."

Bobby Cox does not deny he is the Braves' new manager. Nor does he confirm it either, but that is no longer the question. He is the Braves' manager. Only question is, when will the official announcement come?

"I know nothing," pleaded Cox, laughing.

It is not difficult, however, to add two and two together. If Cox catches a plane late Monday, as he said, then the announcement undoubtedly will come sometime Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the new Braves' skipper said he heard everywhere he went Sunday that Jimmy (the Greek) Snyder said on television that Cox will be Atlanta's new skipper. Which doesn't exactly qualify as a scoop, but Snyder said Billy Cox.

Laughing, Cox said, "Everybody calls me Billy. Everybody in baseball, anyway. When I was at Richmond, Luman Harris called me that all the time." Billy Cox formerly played third base for the then-Brooklyn Dodgers.

Bobby or Billy, Cox is already looking for a home here, it was learned. At least a source close to an Atlanta real estate company said it was searching, and Cox soon will be an area resident.

The 36-year-old former infielder will become the youngest manager in the National League and the youngest in the Braves' Atlanta history.

He has six years experience in the minors and never finished under .500. His 1972 West Haven team won the Eastern League pennant, and his '76 Syracuse club won the Governor's Cup, emblematic of an playoff championship. He had two seconds and two thirds at Syracuse, the ' AAA affiliate.

Cox will succeed as Braves' manager. Bristol was fired Oct. 25 with a year remaining on his contract.

He will become their seventh fulltime skipper, following , , Harris, , Clyde King and Bristol.

Besides posting records ont he sunny side of .500 as a minor league manager, Cox is credited with helping develop such present Yankees as Mickey Klutz, Dell Alston and pitcher Ron Guidry.

"I take no credit," he said. "Especially for Guidry. I happen to like him a lot. It was just a matter of convincing people he had it ... even in spring training this year."

Fox Sports

Trading SS Simmons would be an E-6 for rebuilding Braves

Andrelton Simmons is the kind of player Atlanta should build around -- not trade away

By

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- There is no harm in listening. Teams will consider just about any trade scenario at this time of year, and most never come to fruition.

But know this: If the Braves move shortstop Andrelton Simmons, they will have some serious explaining to do.

I suspect a trade will happen, even though the Braves say they are only listening. They said the same thing last season about Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, and Craig Kimbrel, and every one of them got moved. Every single one.

But Simmons isn’t like Heyward and Upton, who were entering their free-agent years. He isn’t like Gattis, who was more of an player. And he isn’t like Kimbrel, whom the Braves were willing to trade in large part because it freed them of Melvin Upton Jr.’s remaining guarantee.

No, Simmons is one of the Braves’ core players, one of their most identifiable talents. He will play next season at 26. He is signed for the next five seasons for a club-friendly $53 million. And on Wednesday night, he was named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year. Not just for his team. For all of baseball.

If some club makes the Braves a ridiculous offer, OK -- every player is available for the right price. But at some point, this needs to stop.

The Braves, lest we forget, are opening a new ballpark, SunTrust Park, in 2017. Teams generally like to build momentum as they move into new parks, following the example of the mid-1990s Indians -- a team by, ahem, none other than the Braves’ current president of baseball operations, John Hart.

Remember?

Hart, assisted by future Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd, began the now-common practice of signing young core players to long-term deals. The Indians locked up 12 such players, including , , and Manny Ramirez. And it worked. Boy, did it work.

In 1994, the inaugural season at Jacobs Field, the Indians ended a streak of seven consecutive losing seasons. In ’95, they went 100-44 in a strike- shortened campaign, beginning a run in which they reached the playoffs six times in seven years and the World Series twice.

That was the year that the Indians began a streak of 455 straight sellouts, a streak that did not end until April 4, 2001. And that period was when Hart made his reputation, producing the most golden era in Indians history.

Maybe Hart, with John Coppolella as his GM, will pull off the same feat in Atlanta; the Astros certainly benefited from a complete teardown, and a trade of Simmons would continue that pattern. The Braves also hold the No. 3 pick in next year’s draft and the same slot in the international bonus pool allocation, and the way they are headed, they figure to pick in the top 10 the year after that as well. Hart had more time to build the Indians -- he was an integral part of their front office before becoming their GM in Sept. 1991. The Braves, for a variety of reasons, perhaps need to be more nimble with their retooling. But what is the end game here? Freddie Freeman would be next, right? When exactly would the Braves be good again? Why would fans even want to watch this team play?

Coppolella seemingly has latitude under Hart, and certainly seems to love the action -- he’s almost like an East Coast version of the Padres’ A.J. Preller. Maybe the grand plan will work, and the Braves will turn around quickly, and if it’s a year or two after the ballpark opens, so be it. But this strategy also comes with risk.

Simmons, mostly due to the strength of his defense, is one of the top five shortstops in the game according to the two primary versions of Wins Above Replacement (WAR). He is the kind of player you build around, not the kind you move.

Trade him, and you might spend years trying to replace him. Trade him, and the final season at Turner Field will be that much more painful. The first season at SunTrust Park, too.

Reports: Braves re-sign veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski to one-year deal

The Braves signed the 39-year-old veteran catcher to a one-year, $3 million contract following his productive 2015 campaign.

By Staff

The Atlanta Braves did not wait to address their question marks behind the plate. Veteran free-agent catcher A.J. Pierzynski is returning to the team on a one-year contract, according to multiple reports.

The deal, which was first reported by FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, is pending a physical and reportedly worth $3 million with another $1 million possible in incentives.

Pierzynski, who turns 39 next month, emerged as one of the few bright spots for Atlanta last season, replacing top catching prospect Christian Bethancourt as the franchise's regular catcher.

The 18-year veteran started 104 games, hit .300/.339/.430 with nine home runs in 436 plate appearances — good enough for an above-average 112 weighted runs created plus and 2.1 wins above replacement. For the lowest-scoring lineup in baseball, Pierzynski was one of six regular Braves position players to hit above league average. (Two of those players, Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe, were traded at the July deadline.)

The two-time All-Star was one of 11 catchers to post a 2.0 WAR or better last season.

It was originally thought that Pierzynski's excellent 2015 season would increase his free-agent value in a shallow catcher class, so his early return at essentially the same price as the organization signed less-than-productive infielder Alberto Callaspo last offseason was a surprise on Wednesday night.

Where Pierzynski's return leaves Bethancourt in the organization's future plans remains unclear. On one hand, the organization has expressed confidence in Bethancourt's tools long-term, but in two prolonged major-league opportunities the bat has not produced and his defensive ability, still considered his best attribute, has not translated. At the very least, re-signing Pierzynski — even at a bargain-basement price — points to the franchise's waning confidence in Bethancourt's ability to take over the full-time job.

ESPN

Why the Braves could trade Andrelton Simmons

Buster Olney, Senior Writer, ESPN Insider

Some scouts watched Andrelton Simmons early last season and wondered if he was completely healthy. While they had admired the Atlanta Braves shortstop for years, it didn’t seem to them that he was getting to absolutely every ball hit in his time zone. Almost everything, yes, but not everything, and as the scouts talked, they sounded as if they were fretting about a wisp of cloud on an otherwise perfectly sunny day.

This search for a flaw underscored Simmons’ relative dominance among shortstops, because even in a year in which he was perceived to be a little dinged up, Simmons lorded over all over shortstops in defensive metrics in 2015. As he did in 2014, and 2013. Andrelton Simmons is to infield defensive metrics in this era what Wilt Chamberlain was to NBA scoring 50 years ago.

So context is important in understanding why the Braves are in discussions about a possible trade of the 26-year-old shortstop. The are among the most interested clubs, given that Erick Aybar turns 32 in January and has one year left on his contract, and so are the . The Braves insist they are not shopping Simmons, but in the eyes of rival evaluators, Atlanta is very willing to move him in the right deal because the Braves could see the possible tipping point in value on the horizon.

Simmons is about to get more expensive, under the terms of his multi-year deal – he’ll make $6 million this year, and then, in the four years that follow, $8 million, $11 million, $13 million and $15 million, respectively.

There is a lot of doubt that he is going to improve at the plate because of his aggressiveness, and because of perceived flaws in his swing. A couple of years ago, one staff member from another team – who loves to watch Simmons play – talked about Simmons’ swing and said, “It is what it is.”

Simmons ranked 13th among 19 qualified shortstops in OPS last season, at .660, and in 2014, he ranked 16th among 19.

But at this stage of his career, whoever employs Simmons can expect high-end defense, a shortstop who has an uncanny ability to get to the ball to either side and still deliver a straight throw to first base, rather than sinkers that can skip past the first baseman. The Braves’ Freddie Freeman has marveled about this, about how Simmons always seems to be able to throw a true four-seamer. From the first day Simmons arrived, Chipper Jones talked about how Simmons had a chance to be the best shortstop he had ever seen.

The Angels and other teams are crunching defensive data, writes Jeff Fletcher.

The Padres are also interested in Simmons and have made multiple trades with Atlanta in the last year, but a major question would be whether San Diego has the prospect firepower to make a deal for the shortstop.

CBS Sports

Padres, other teams talking to Braves about SS Andrelton Simmons

By Jon Heyman

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Padres and a few other teams have asked about Braves star shortstop Andrelton Simmons, and in a surprise twist, the Braves are listening.

Atlanta did some major rebuilding last year, trading off some high-priced veteran pieces for prospects, but Simmons is a young star with five years to go on his contract who is seen as one of the game's two or three best defensive players.

However, the Braves have shown one thing over the past year, and that is that they are open to just about everything.

The Padres, who swung two big deals with the Braves last season (Justin Upton and Craig Kimbrel) have been searching for a starting quality shortstop for a year. While some viewed them as a team caught in between, they are expected to try to contend in 2016.

The Mets and White Sox are among other teams with shortstop needs. The Braves named a very big price in brief talks with the Mets during the season.

The Braves have been thought to be shooting for 2017, when they move into a new suburban stadium. Simmons has $53 million and five years to go on his deal, which was for $58 million over seven years, a record AAV at the time for a one-plus player.

Jonah Keri first reported that an NL West team was asking about Simmons.

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Liberty Media giving Braves tracking stock

Mark Meltzer - Executive Editor - Atlanta Business Chronicle

The Atlanta Braves are getting their own stock.

Liberty Media Corp. (NASDAQ: LMCA), the Braves’ parent company, is creating tracking stocks for each of its three main businesses: Sirius XM Holdings Inc, Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and the Braves. The stocks will be Liberty Braves Group, Liberty Media Group and Liberty Sirius Group.

The announcement comes as fans wonder about the commitment of an out-of-town corporation that acquired the Braves in part to money on its taxes. Will Liberty sell the Braves?

Holders of Liberty’s Series A, Series B and Series C common stock would receive shares of the corresponding series of Liberty Braves tracking stock, Liberty Media tracking stock and Liberty Sirius tracking stock for each share of Liberty’s common stock held by them. In addition, following the creation of the new tracking stocks, Liberty would distribute to holders of its Liberty Braves tracking stock subscription rights to acquire shares of Series C Liberty Braves tracking stock.

“We expect this recapitalization to highlight each tracking stock group’s operations and the financial performance of its attributed assets, provide greater investor choice, and enable targeted capital raising while maintaining an optimal capital structure for Liberty,” said Greg Maffei, Liberty President & CEO.

Liberty said it intends to attribute to the Liberty Braves Group its subsidiary the Braves Holdings LLC, which indirectly owns the Atlanta Braves and certain assets and liabilities associated with the Atlanta Braves’ stadium and mixed use development project, cash and a note obligation in the amount of approximately $165 million from the Liberty Braves Group to the Liberty Media Group relating to funds borrowed and used for investment in the Development Project.

The Intergroup Note is expected to be repaid using proceeds from the proposed subscription rights offering. Any remaining proceeds from the rights offering will be attributed to the Liberty Braves Group.

Atlanta Business Chronicle reported recently the Braves were more profitable in the third quarter of 2015, despite lower revenues.

MiLB.com

Peoria notes: Timing key for Atlanta's Sims

Right-hander seeks improved command through synced mechanics

By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com

Lucas Sims doesn't know for sure why he wound up with the opportunity to pitch in the , but he knows exactly what he's focused on while he's there.

"Really, timing has been the biggest thing I've been working on, getting everything in the mechanics synced up in order to be able to execute pitches," the Braves' No. 7 prospect said. "It's more of making sure everything is in the right place through the sequence of a pitch's delivery, so, repeating the delivery, you could say."

Assigned to the Advanced out of Spring Training, the 2012 first-rounder was out from mid-May through the end of June with a hip contusion sustained when the ' team bus crashed.

He still made nine starts each with the Mudcats and the Double-A , and two rehab starts in the Gulf Coast League, going 7-6 with an unimpressive 4.37 ERA but a .226 average against and 100 over 92 2/3 innings. He hadn't thrown so few frames since the season he was drafted.

"I'm not exactly sure if that's the reason I'm here," he said. "I didn't log as many innings as I did the year before, but whether that's the [reason for the AFL assignment] or not, I'm excited to be here. The experience has been great, and I feel I've been able to learn a lot, and it's benefited me a lot as a pitcher."

Sims allowed four runs -- three earned -- over his first two games for the Javelinas, then went out and tossed three scoreless innings of one-hit ball, striking out three, in his third start. Working out of the bullpen the next time out, he again turned in three scoreless frames, this time fanning four and refusing to allow a baserunner but for an in the field behind him.

The success came when Sims was able to do what he's been working on -- repeating his delivery with his fastball, changeup and curve, which has helped him spot the ball where he wants it.

"Just being able to throw all three pitches for strikes for the most part," he said. "My command has been improving, mainly [by] focusing on my timing on being able to execute pitches."

Although he hadn't factored in a decision, his 2.45 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 11 innings were impressive enough to make Sims the starter for the AFL West team in the Fall Stars Game. He allowed two runs on four hits while striking out four without walking anybody over two innings, and he had a blast playing with some of the best prospects in baseball in a nationally televised game.

"It was really fun -- being able to get together with all those guys and go out and compete with the other squad -- go out there just for an inning or two and let it fly and have fun," Sims said.

As for how he wraps up the AFL season, which ends with the Championship Game on Nov. 21, beyond continuing to work on his timing, the native of Lawrenceville, Georgia, doesn't have any specific goals. "Nothing really," he said, "just stay healthy and finish strong."

In brief

Mr. Reliable: Righty Stephen Johnson was a strong option out of the bullpen for the Giants-affiliated Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels through the bulk of the season, and when San Francisco sent him to Cincinnati for Marlon Byrd on Aug. 20, he responded by finishing the year with six scoreless appearances for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, striking out 11 and allowing four hits and a walk over 8 2/3 innings. Through another change of scenery, Johnson has remained his same old self. He led qualifying AFL relievers with an 0.87 ERA over his first six appearances in the desert, having allowed a run on four hits and two walks over 10 1/3 innings.

A little help from my M's: The duo of ranked Mariners prospects D.J. Peterson (No. 3) and Tyler O'Neill (No. 6) have combined for 45 of Peoria's 228 total bases, despite the latter having departed the AFL after eight games to play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 tournament. Peterson and O'Neill are also tied for the Javelinas lead with three homers, and Peterson's .434 is the best among active Peoria players.

Can't hit this: The Javelinas were 8-12 and in third place in a three-team division through 20 games, but despite their collective 4.06 ERA (fourth of six total teams), the Javs' pitching staff had given up fewer hits (183) than any other club except the Scottsdale Scorpions (174), who at 15-7 boast the best record in the circuit. Peoria's offense struggles to pile up hits even more than its opponents do -- the Javs are last with 150 base knocks, a .216 team batting average, 66 RBIs and 75 runs scored.