Atlanta Braves 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 Andrelton Simmons, but this does not mean they are actively shopping the young shortstop, 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 Gold Glove Award winner who has been described by general manager John Coppolella 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 catcher 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 baseball operations John Hart. 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 pitchers 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. Center fielder Michael Bourn won the inaugural award, and right fielder Jason Heyward gained the honor last year. The only non- Braves player to win the award was former D-backs right fielder Gerardo Parra 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 National League'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 shortstops 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 third baseman 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 second baseman 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 Triple-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 outfielder 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 double-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 pitcher 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 World Series 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.