Braves unveil changes to 2019 uniforms at Chop Fest

 

On Saturday at the team’s Chop Fest fans event at SunTrust Park and The Battery Atlanta, the Braves unveiled some changes to their uniforms for the coming season.

While the home white uniforms will remain the same, here is a breakdown of the changes to the others, with explanations from the team: 

Home cream uniforms

The team added navy piping on the sleeves as a tribute to their 1950s uniforms.

Home Friday red uniforms

 

These uniforms are an ode to the early 2000s.

The jerseys are slightly modified with changing the piping from two colors on the chest and sleeves to just navy.

These uniforms will be worn for every Friday home game during the regular season.

 Road navy uniforms

The “Atlanta” letters on the front and the numbers on the back have been changed on the front to red for more color contrast.

The letters in “Atlanta” were modified to match the cursive Braves font.

The team added gray piping on the chest and sleeves.

Road gray uniforms

The letters in “Atlanta” have been modified to match the cursive Braves font.

Pendleton inducted into Braves Hall of Fame

 

ATLANTA -- As he welcomed the newest member of the Braves Hall of Fame, Chipper Jones reminisced about that Spring Training night in 1994 when he blew out his knee and then quickly learned of Terry Pendleton's ability to mix compassion with tough-love motivation.

"He was the one guy who took it upon himself to come and comfort me at a time when I needed it most," Jones said. "I needed to be lifted up. Here I am on the training-room table, I'm bawling and I'm crying. He took me by the hand, prayed with me, cried with me and he looked at me and said, 'Buck up, kid.'"

Whether serving as that player who fueled Atlanta's unprecedented streak of 14 consecutive division titles or the mentor who enriched the careers of Brian McCann and the organization's other stars from this century, Pendleton was a fierce competitor and highly respected leader. His contributions were honored Friday night, when he and dead-ball-era star Hugh Duffy were inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame.

"I've never been around a man who was a better leader of men," Jones said. "I've seen many, including myself, try very, very hard. I've never seen anyone do it as perfectly as TP did. We're talking about a game we play that has gigantic egos. It's hard to police a clubhouse. I tried to do it for many years. Freddie [Freeman] will tell you, I messed up many times. But I never saw Terry Pendleton mess up once."

Many current and former Braves were present for the induction ceremony, which highlighted the Chop Fest Gala, an event that celebrated last year's accomplishments and welcomed this offseason's signees -- McCann and Josh Donaldson, who both flew to Atlanta and then returned to Orlando to resume competing in a celebrity golf tournament.

"You're the man," McCann said as he pointed toward Pendleton. "I'm so happy to be here."

Pendleton spent four years (1991-94 and '96) playing for the Braves and he has spent each of the past 17 years serving as either a Major League coach or instructor within Atlanta's system. He has significantly influenced an organization that will never forget what he did during the memorable worst-to-first 1991 season that ended one win shy of a World Series title.

Historians will always recognize Pendleton that won the 1991 National League MVP Award and then finished second the following season, when the Braves made a second straight trip to the World Series. Those who saw him influence David Justice, Ron Gant, Mark Lemke, Jones and countless others during the early '90s will forever remember that his MVP credentials included far more than what he provided with his glove and bat.

"Terry Pendleton's fingerprints are all over this organization," Jones said. "Starting in 1991 as a player, as a leader and as a MVP, he was the one who changed the culture around the Braves organization. He let it be known, 'Finishing in last place ain't going to work anymore, brother. We're going straight to the top.' Fourteen years later, we had 14 straight division titles."

As Pendleton accepted this honor, he thanked those Little League coaches who showed patience back when he considered himself the worst player in the league. He thanked his coaches at Fresno State, who convinced him to begin switch-hitting. He also thanked his former general manager John Schuerholz and Bobby Cox, who made him one of the Braves' top free-agent targets after the 1990 season.

Pendleton fought back some tears when he last thanked his wife Cathy, who fueled the move to Atlanta by telling her husband if he accepted the Yankees' more lucrative offer he'd be going to New York by himself. His decision was also influenced by his belief the Braves had something special brewing with the likes of Justice, Gant, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Steve Avery.

But 30 years later, as he now finds himself enshrined with Hank Aaron and the Braves' other greats, he admits he never expected his move to Atlanta would prove to be this special.

"I do understand what we accomplished and what we started," Pendleton said. "It's special; it's been special. I guess the [New England] Patriots are at 10 [consecutive division titles] now and everybody is hoping they'll eventually lose. But to do 14 is something special. To be the start of that 14 is even more special."

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Anthopoulos: Braves' focus is adding OF

 

ATLANTA -- Count Freddie Freeman among those who have become antsy while waiting to see if the Braves add to the splash made in late November, when Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann signed with Atlanta.

"[Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos] and [assistant GM Perry Minasian] are probably annoyed with me," Freeman said. "I talk to them pretty much every week. I'm like everybody else, I want to see what's going on. I do like what we did at the beginning. We came out guns a-blazing by [adding] Josh and Brian. We still obviously have a hole in right field. We'll see what happens. I'm paying attention. I see who is still out there."

As Anthopoulos spoke to media members at Chop Fest on Saturday afternoon, he would like to be more specific about his pursuits, but not at the sake of weakening his negotiating power. Still, he said his current focus is centered on landing an outfielder, and he revealed at least one pursuit could resolve itself soon.

"Some of the things we've explored are starting to move," Anthopoulos said. "There are a lot of things we'd like to do and a lot of things we'd like to get done. We just don't want to force a move. I know at times that can be tough for a fanbase. Everybody wants to see us make a splash with trades and signings. I get it. The one thing I know the fans care about is if that team is going to win on the field. I've been there. I've won the offseason before. I've made the big splashes. It does not always work. That is not always the best way to go about it. That doesn't mean we're not going to take opportunities to make the team better, and there's still opportunities out there."

Anthopoulos said there are probably three outfielders still available via trade or free agency who he views as a potential fit for his roster. While he didn't specify these targets, it's long been known there's a chance Nick Markakis is brought back. A.J. Pollock stands as the only other free-agent outfielder who seems to be a possible fit, but his market has not yet dropped into Atlanta's comfort zone.

Detroit is willing to deal Nicholas Castellanos, whose defensive shortcomings decrease his value. But Anthopoulos indicated at least one of his potential trade targets has not been publicly discussed. He also provided the reminder that by signing a free agent, another team could be financially pushed to make an outfielder available.

While landing an outfielder currently seems to be the priority, Anthopoulos did not rule out the possibility of acquiring a starting pitcher or reliever before the start of the season. It may seem optimal to have a team in place at the start of Spring Training. But recent market trends have prepared GMs to remain quite active in February and March.

"I expect us to add. I just don't know if that's one, two or three players," Anthopoulos said. "Depending on the free agent market, conversely, there's a trade market that goes along with that. Maybe this kicks into Spring Training. So, I'd say between now and Opening Day, I'm confident we'll have added a player."

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Around the Horn: Folty tops uncertain rotation

 

ATLANTA -- With the start of Spring Training less than a month away, it's time to look at what the Braves' roster might look like on Opening Day. First up is the starting rotation, which potentially could gain an external addition before the regular season begins.

Over the past six weeks, gaining a frontline starter, an outfielder and bolstering the bullpen have been described as needs for the Braves. But it would be more accurate to describe these as "wants." If necessary, Adam Duvall could serve as Atlanta's third outfielder, and there are plenty of internal options to fill both the rotation and relief corps.

But after assessing the stalwart rotations of the Mets (Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Zack Wheeler) and the Nationals (Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg), the desire to defend the National League East crown creates the need to enhance Atlanta's rotation, which currently counts Mike Foltynewicz as its only frontline starter.

Whether the Braves acquire Sonny Gray or upgrade their rotation via another trade remains to be seen. But for now, we'll simply look at the candidates for a rotation that will be influenced by the strides made by Sean Newcomb and the Major League-ready prospects who should be given more chances to prove themselves at the game's highest level.

The ace: Foltynewicz

 

The decision last offseason to simplify his windup proved quite beneficial for Foltynewicz, who improved from a 4.79 ERA with a 4.33 FIP in 2017 to a 2.85 ERA and a 3.37 FIP last season. The 27-year-old right-hander earned his first All-Star selection and concluded his breakthrough season by posting a 2.55 ERA over his final 10 starts.

Per Statcast, among the 61 pitchers who threw at least 1,000 four-seam fastballs last year, Foltynewicz ranked fourth with an average velocity of 96.3 mph. His .325 xwOBA (Expected Weighted On-base Average) against this pitch ranked 25th and was higher than his overall .274 xwOBA, which ranked eighth among all NL pitchers.

Foltynewicz's ability to consistently command his fastball enhances the value of his slider, which limited hitters to a .197 xwOBA, the seventh-best mark among pitchers who threw the pitch at least 500 times. His swing-and-miss rate with the slider improved from 15.1 percent in 2017 to 18.5 percent in '18.

Though there is room for improvement, Foltynewicz possesses the physical tools necessary to maintain his status among the game's elite.

No. 2: Newcomb

 

With just 49 starts in his career, it remains hard to project Newcomb, who produced a 4.32 ERA over 19 starts in 2017 and a 3.90 ERA over 31 appearances (30 starts) last year. The 25-year-old southpaw nearly no-hit the Dodgers on July 29 and then exited his next start (his 22nd of the season) with a 3.15 ERA. But he slumped over his final eight starts, producing a 6.45 ERA that tainted an otherwise strong first full season in the Majors.

Newcomb made strides last year by essentially doubling the usage of his changeup, making him less predictable than in 2017, when he primarily used his fastball and curveball. The .215 xwOBA produced on the curve ranked 21st among the 76 pitchers who threw the pitch at least 250 times. His 8.4 percent swing-and-miss rate ranked just 65th within this group, creating further reason to minimize the potential value of this pitch.

It's always been about command for Newcomb, who produced the second-worst first-strike percentage (53.9) among qualified starters last year. He certainly needs more time to develop, but this will be an important year for the hurler, who Braves fans will always remember as the guy who was acquired for Andrelton Simmons.

No. 3:Kevin Gausman

 

While Gausman might not be a frontline starter, the Braves will hope that his performance down the stretch after being acquired from the Orioles at last year's July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline is predictive. The 28-year-old hurler had a 2.87 ERA in 10 starts he made for the Braves, who supplied him with a much stronger defense than the one that backed him in Baltimore.

During his time with the Braves, Gausman had a .278 wOBA and a .324 xwOBA. The difference of -0.046 was the third-highest produced by a pitcher (min. 750 pitches) after July. This signifies he was the third-most fortunate pitcher over that span. The veteran starter has completed at least 179 2/3 innings in each of the past three seasons and he posted a 3.61 ERA while pitching in the American League East in 2016.

No. 4: Julio Teheran

 

This will likely be the final season in Atlanta for Teheran, who has never lived up to the promise showed when he posted a 2.89 ERA in 2014. His 3.94 ERA last year was a slight improvement in comparison to the 4.49 ERA in 2017. But his career-high 4.3 walks per nine innings extended a troubling trend that began the year before, when that mark jumped from 2.0 (in 2016) to 3.4.

Teheran posted a 2.97 ERA over last year's final 10 starts, generating a .248 wOBA and a .300 xwOBA. The difference of -0.052 made him the second-most fortunate in that span, a credit to the Braves' strong defense.

Fifth spot

If Mike Soroka's right shoulder proves to be healthy and the Braves expect he will be durable, he should be considered the favorite to open the season as Atlanta's fifth starter. If the Braves want to take a cautious route and monitor his innings at the Triple-A level, Touki Toussaint, Kyle Wright, Max Fried, Luiz Gohara and Bryse Wilson stand as other worthy candidates.

Toussaint impressed over five starts last year, but his 6.5 walks per nine innings creates some concern about his readiness. Gohara and Fried could prove valuable in either the rotation or the bullpen. Wright and Wilson may benefit from more time at the Triple-A level.

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Influential Pendleton set for Braves HOF honor

 

ATLANTA -- Nearly three decades after fueling the most unexpected and successful run in Atlanta sports history, Terry Pendleton is still humbled by the fact that a picture of him hangs within the Braves' clubhouse at SunTrust Park.

"I just don't see myself that way," Pendleton said. "I was blessed and honored to be surrounded by a lot of great people and teammates here in Atlanta. I know I wouldn't have accomplished all that I did without them."

Chipper Jones is among the former teammates who will be present Friday night when the Braves induct Pendleton and Hugh Duffy into the team's Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place during the Chop Fest Gala, which will also honor current team members. Details for the event can be found at www.braves.com/gala.

"I was shocked and surprised when I got the call from [Braves chairman Terry McGuirk]," Pendleton said. "This wasn't something I was thinking about. But I'm certainly honored."

Though John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Bobby Cox, John Schuerholz and Jones might be recognized as the men responsible for extending Atlanta's record division titles streak to 14, Pendleton was arguably the most valuable pioneer of this unprecedented run, which he influenced as both a player and a coach.

It's best to go back to Pendleton's St. Louis days to best understand his journey toward becoming the 1991 National League MVP Award winner and the runner-up in '92, when the Braves made a second straight World Series appearance. The former third baseman's final season with the Cardinals began in February 1990, when he arrived for Spring Training and heard a team official tell him, "Congrats on winning your arbitration case, but this will be your last year with the team."

Unhappy with his situation, disenchanted with his general manager and saddened by Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog's midseason resignation, Pendleton hit just .230 with a .601 OPS during that 1990 season. His discouragement grew in August, when his new manager, Joe Torre, told him he'd spend the season's final weeks essentially serving as Todd Zeile's backup.

Pendleton responded by taking extra ground balls with Zeile before most every game played over the remainder of the season. This mentoring practice continued when he readied Jones to become the Braves' third baseman and throughout his 16-season tenure (2002-17) on Atlanta's coaching staff.

"My uncle lived in Kansas City, but was a huge Cardinals fan," former Braves second baseman Mark Lemke said. "When we signed TP, he told me you can't just look at the numbers to know how good this guy is. TP was the game's best [defensive] third baseman and he truly embraced that chance to be a leader."

When the Braves fell 9 1/2 games behind the Dodgers after losing the final game before the 1991 All-Star break, Pendleton went up and down the bench at Dodger Stadium telling his discouraged teammates that the race wasn't over. The rest of the story is well known: Los Angeles faded. Atlanta caught fire and came within one win of winning that year's epic World Series against the Twins.

Many Braves fans might remember Lemke hit .417 with three triples and a double during the 1991 Fall Classic. But only a few might realize that he did so while utilizing Pendleton's 36-inch bat, which was referred to as "The Log" by Ron Gant, Otis Nixon and some other Braves teammates. Lemke had switched to the longer bat upon the suggestion Pendleton made after watching the former second baseman consistently produce weak ground balls against pitches that tailed away.

"He's the reason the bat I used in that World Series is in the Hall of Fame," Lemke said. "We were young like the current team. Having a guy like him around was so valuable."

When the 1990 season was over, Pendleton cried on his way out of Busch Stadium and moved to Los Angeles thinking he would almost certainly sign with the Dodgers. The Yankees made the greatest offer, but his wife said, "You'll be going to New York alone [if you take that deal]." So Pendleton assessed the young talent assembled in Atlanta and made the influential decision to become a Brave.

Nobody was surprised to see Pendleton's glove enhance the value of Atlanta's young starters -- Smoltz, Glavine and Steve Avery. But few could have predicted he'd prove valuable enough offensively to produce the NL's third-best fWAR (11.4) over the 1991 and '92 seasons.

Two great seasons do not make a Hall of Fame career, but given where the franchise had been during the latter half of the 1980s, those two NL pennant-winning seasons will forever be special in Braves lore. Pendleton mentored Jones while continuing to produce on the field during the two seasons that followed. He impacted the organization during his 16 seasons on the Major League coaching staff and he continues to do so now as he serves as a special assistant, a role that allows him to works with Austin Riley and some of the club's other top prospects.

"You could try to write a script where you win the World Series every year," Pendleton said. "But we all know baseball doesn't work that way. To think back and remember what this city was like in 1991 and those years that followed is special. You still hear people tell stories about what it was like being at the ballpark those years. I'm very blessed to have been a part of it."

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Braves release details for today's Chop Fest

 

ATLANTA -- Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman are among those scheduled to attend Chop Fest on Saturday at SunTrust Park, a free event that provides fans a chance to interact with their favorite Braves players, coaches, alumni and personalities.

Acuna, Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Ender Inciarte and Dansby Swanson will unveil the refreshed uniforms for the 2019 season inside LIVE! at The Battery Atlanta at 11:30 a.m. This stands as just one of the many events aimed toward providing fans a chance to see, listen to and learn from members of the Braves' organization.

Parking is free during Chop Fest hours (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) in the Red Deck, Green Deck, Purple Deck, Delta Deck, Braves Lot 29, Braves Lot 9 and Braves Lot 11.

All information can be found at www.braves.com/chopfest. The MLB Ballpark App will have a complete list of all activities, including player schedules, and it will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Here is what will be available during this year's Chop Fest:

On-stage activities (Unless noted, all activities at the Konica Minolta Conference Center, located inside the stadium)

10:30 a.m.: Braves fashion show with manager Brian Snitker, Charlie Culberson and their family members to showcase the latest styles available from the Braves' retail department

11:30 a.m.: Uniform unveil with Acuna, Freeman, Albies, Inciarte, Swanson (LIVE! at The Battery)

12:30 p.m.: Q&A with Acuna (National League Rookie of the Year Award winner) and Snitker (NL Manager of the Year Award winner)

1:30 p.m.: Panel with the 2019 coaching staff (Konica Minolta Conference Center)

2:30 p.m.: Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos gives his state of the team address at the Georgia Power Pavilion Stage (located in the Plaza at The Battery)

3:30 p.m.: Los Bravos bilingual Q&A

4:30 p.m.: Pitching 101 panel

On-field activities (Located on SunTrust Park's infield)

10-11 a.m. and 5-6 p.m.: Everyone runs the bases

11 a.m. and 3 p.m.: Hitting clinic with Braves players and coaches

11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.: Baserunning clinic

12 p.m. and 4 p.m.: Pitching clinic

12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.: Fielding clinic

Photo stations (Various players will visit throughout the day)

• Station A: Coors Light Below The Chop (entrance inside the Chop House Gate)

• Station B: Home dugout (entrance from Section 14 of the lower level)

• Station C: INFINITI Club (located near the Chop Fest Gaming Center on Terrace Level)

• Station D: Xfinity Rooftop (located on the upper level of the ballpark)

Autographs

Available with select players for a fee. Passes can be purchased in advance at www.braves.com/chopfest.

Los Bravos

• Stick ball will be located in Power Alley at The Battery

• Latino players will visit the station throughout the day

• Salsambo Studio dancers will perform salsa and bachata
• Photo station with various Latin flags and other props

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Braves name Dana Brown as VP of scouting

 

ATLANTA -- Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos will reunite with a longtime friend when Dana Brown arrives in Atlanta to begin his new role as vice president of scouting.

Brown will oversee the club's amateur scouting efforts, filling the void created when scouting director Brian Bridges was dismissed from the organization. The 51-year-old Brown spent the past nine seasons serving as a special assistant to the general manager for the Blue Jays. Anthopoulos served as Toronto's GM during a majority of this stint.

"We are extremely excited to add Dana to our baseball operations staff," Anthopoulos said. "His track record of identifying Major League talent is unquestioned, and we look forward to his contributions to our organization."

When Anthopoulos was entering the baseball world with Montreal, he developed a friendship with Brown, who spent eight seasons as the scouting director for the Expos/Nationals.

Shortly after becoming the Blue Jays' general manager in 2009, Anthopoulos lured Brown to Toronto to begin his role as a special assistant.

Upon being hired by the Blue Jays, Brown told FOX Sports he considers Anthopoulos to be "like a younger brother."

Anthopoulos accepted his role with the Braves approximately six weeks after the 2017 season. He opted to keep the previous regime's scouting department in place. But several scouts have long speculated Brown would eventually fill the role held by Bridges, despite signing a one-year contract extension in October.

Bridges' dismissal was announced around the same time the Braves learned they had won the grievance filed by Carter Stewart, a right-hander who did not sign after being selected by the club with the eighth pick in last year's MLB Draft.

Though the timing seemed odd, Anthopoulos has said Bridges' dismissal was not directly related to the events surrounding Stewart's case.

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Braves avoid arbitration with Folty, 6 others

 

ATLANTA -- Mike Foltynewicz won't endure another arbitration hearing and Arodys Vizcaíno will have the chance to prove he's healthy enough to earn the raise he has been offered as he comes off an injury-plagued season.

The Braves avoided arbitration by agreeing to one-year deals with each of their previously unsigned arbitration-eligible players -- Foltynewicz ($5.475 million), Vizcaino ($4.8 million), Kevin Gausman ($9.35 million), Adam Duvall ($2.875 million), Charlie Culberson ($1.395 million), Sam Freeman ($1.575 million) and Dan Winkler ($1.61 million) -- before Friday afternoon's deadline.

Foltynewicz experienced the strict aspect of the "file and trial" approach last year, when he lost a hearing that was held despite his request ($2.3 million) being just $100,000 more than what was offered by the Braves. This year's negotiating experience proved much more pleasant for the All-Star hurler, who has more than doubled his $2.2 million salary for the upcoming season.

This healthy raise was expected for Foltynewicz, who posted a 2.85 ERA over 31 starts and finished eighth in balloting for the National League Cy Young Award. He will anchor a rotation that was bolstered by the Trade Deadline acquisition of Gausman, who received a $3.75 million raise after posting a 3.92 ERA over 31 combined starts with the Orioles and Braves.

Vizcaino's 2019 salary is up from the $3.4 million figure he was given in '18. He'll come to Spring Training with a chance to compete with A.J. Minter for the closer's role. But if Vizcaino's right shoulder continues to be a problem, the Braves would have the option to release him before Opening Day and bear the burden of just a portion of this salary.

All contracts given to arbitration-eligible players are non-guaranteed, meaning a club would be responsible for just a prorated portion (30 days or 45 days) of the salary if the player is released before Opening Day. This rule will be important to remember in relation to Vizcaino, who missed most of last season's second half, and Duvall, who struggled after being acquired from the Reds before last year's Trade Deadline.

Any player with a non-guaranteed contract released on or before the 16th day of Spring Training is awarded 30 days' termination pay. Players released after the 16th day of Spring Training would be awarded 45 days' termination pay. In relation to Vizcaino's salary, these figures would be $774,131 and $1.16 million.

Though Duvall struggled in 2018, hitting .195 with 15 homers and a .639 OPS, his consecutive 30-homer seasons in '16-17 earned him the $2.875 million salary he has been given for '19. The Braves tendered him a contract because their limited internal depth sets up the possibility he could open the upcoming season as one of their starting outfielders.

If the Braves acquire a starting outfielder and are hesitant about utilizing Duvall as a backup this season, they will also have the option to release him during Spring Training and be responsible to pay just a portion of this salary.

Coming off a magical season during which he doubled his career homer total by belting 12 long balls, Culberson can now enjoy the first seven-figure salary of his career. The suburban Atlanta native is once again projected to serve as one of the Braves' key bench players.

Freeman experienced a heavy early-season workload that began to take its toll in late April. But after spending three weeks on the disabled list, the veteran lefty returned in late August and did not allow a run over his final 10 2/3 innings of the season.

Winkler was one of the key cogs in Atlanta's bullpen, where he produced a 1.53 ERA through his first 31 appearances last year. But the right-hander, who has undergone two major elbow surgeries within the past five years, produced a 5.23 ERA over the 38 appearances that followed and was left off the postseason roster.

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Braves won't lose No. 9 pick in 2019 Draft

 

ATLANTA -- A source with knowledge of the litigation said the Braves have won the grievance filed by the Major League Baseball Players Association on behalf of Carter Stewart, a high school right-hander who was not signed after being selected with the eighth pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.

As a result, Atlanta will keep the ninth pick in this year's Draft. This compensatory pick was assigned as a result of Stewart not signing.

The MLBPA filed a grievance on Stewart's behalf alleging the Braves did not make an earnest attempt to sign Stewart after a medical review created concerns about the young hurler's right wrist.

To receive and then keep the ninth pick through this grievance process, Atlanta had to prove it made an offer that accounted for at least 40 percent of the slot value ($4,980,700) assigned to last year's eighth pick. In this case, the offer had to be at least $1,992,280.

A source with knowledge of the negotiations said Carter dropped his request to $3.7 million shortly before the July 6 deadline passed. The Braves' top offer was $2 million.

Because Stewart recently enrolled at a junior college (Eastern Florida State Community College), he will be eligible for this year's Draft. Had the 19-year-old pitcher stuck with his commitment to attend Mississippi State (a four-year school), he would not have been eligible until 2021.

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Statcast trends that could affect Braves' 2019

 

ATLANTA -- Looking ahead toward the 2019 season, here are some Statcast trends and metrics that could influence how the Braves round out their roster and ultimately fare in their attempt to defend their National League East crown.

Freddie Freeman's power
The Braves have gambled $23 million on the belief Josh Donaldson will be healthy enough to compete with Freeman and the handful of other legitimate NL MVP Award candidates. But there's also reason to wonder if Freeman will regain the power he possessed before his left wrist was fractured on May 17, 2017.

Freeman has repeatedly said his wrist is fine, and he backed this up by arguably standing as the leading candidate for the NL MVP Award through the first two weeks of August. But when looking at exit velocities and barreled balls percentages, there is a noticeable difference between his before and after numbers.

Barreled balls event percentage:
2018: 9.3 (25th of 97 MLB players with 400 batted ball events)
2017: 13.3 (10th of 182 w/300 BBE)
2016: 13.7 (sixth of 108 w/400 BBE)
2015: 11.3 (16th of 199 w/300 BBE)

Freeman's 2015 right wrist ailment limited him to 118 games, which was one more than he played in '17, when his left wrist was fractured by a pitch.

The best span of Freeman's career stretched from June 15, 2016-May 17, 2017. Within this season-equivalent (587 plate appearances) period, he hit .339 with 38 homers, a 1.127 OPS and 189 Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+). His average exit velocity was 91.6 mph, and he barreled 16.6 percent of balls in play.

While hitting .303 with a .892 OPS and 133 wRC+ since returning from the wrist fracture, Freeman's average exit velocity has been 89.1 mph, with 9.5 percent of balls in play being barreled.
Freeman earned a third-place finish in this year's NL MVP Award balloting, and his production solidified his status among the game's best. But after hitting .342 with 15 homers and a 1.031 OPS through his first 69 games, he batted .285 with eight homers and a .788 OPS over his final 93 games.
Maybe a winter's worth of rest -- or more importantly, the plan to rest more frequently next season -- will prove beneficial. Maybe being paired alongside Donaldson will prove beneficial, though last year Freeman did see more in-zone pitches than he had in any of the previous three seasons. Nevertheless, while dealing with multiple wrist ailments over the past few years, it's noteworthy to account for the recent decline in exit velocity and barrel percentage.

Inciarte's range
The Braves have made it clear they value on-base skills and defensive value in their search for an outfielder. This has at least lessened the possibility of them trading for the Tigers' Nicholas Castellanos. But Ender Inciarte's presence would at least make this a more comfortable gamble.

Before looking at why Inciarte would qualify as a first-ballot Statcast Hall of Famer, let's look at Baseball Savant's definition of Outs Above Average (OAA) -- the cumulative effect of all individual catch probability plays a fielder has been credited or debited with, making it a range-based metric of fielding skill that accounts for the number of plays made and the difficulty of them. For example, a fielder who executes a 25 percent catch probability play gets +.75; one who unable to make the play gets -.25.

Inciarte leads all MLB outfielders with 66 OAA over the past three seasons. Billy Hamilton ranks second with 52. The only other two with as many as 40 are Lorenzo Cain (47) and Mookie Betts (46).

Defensive decline is inevitable, but Inciarte did not show any apparent signs as he tied Cardinals rookie Harrison Bader for an MLB-high 21 OAA in 2018.

Inciarte's great range allowed the Braves to completely alter Markakis' average starting spot by playing him deeper and closer to the right-field line. Markakis went from -5 OAA (59th of 71 with at least 200 opportunities) in 2017 to 0 OAA (39th of 75) and a Gold Glove in '18.
Saying Inciarte could similarly influence Castellanos would be the equivalent of saying Ozzie Albies' range allows for the option of using Brian McCann at shortstop. But while Castellanos might still be the game's worst defensive outfielder, Inciarte's presence would at least make him less of a detriment.

Will Folty build on 2018?
When accounting for whether the Braves need to add a top-flight pitcher, you can question whether Sean Newcomb is capable of making a rise similar to the one Mike Foltynewicz experienced last season. But it may be even more important to account for the possibility Foltynewicz takes a step back in 2019.

Foltynewicz posted a 2.02 ERA through his first 16 starts and then extended a maddening first-half trend by experiencing one ugly inning in each of his final two starts before the All-Star break. He concluded July with two so-so starts before compiling a 2.55 ERA over his remaining 11 starts.

Expected Weighted On-base Average (xwOBA) provides a better indication of a player's skill because unlike wOBA, it erases defense from the equation by accounting for launch angle and exit velocities of balls in play. Foltynewicz finished eighth among NL pitchers with a .274 xwOBA, an .009 difference from his .265 wOBA, which ranked fifth in the NL.

When Foltynewicz established himself through those first 16 starts, he recorded 10.82 strikeouts per nine innings and issued 4.04 walks per nine innings. His .261 wOBA was better than his .276 xwOBA. During his impressive 11-start stretch to end the season, he had a 9.76 K/9, a 3.44 BB/9, a .232 wOBA and a .257 xwOBA.

If solely looking at the xwOBA metrics, there is reason to project a slight decline. But if solely looking at the numbers and ignoring human elements like experience, then you likely wouldn't have guessed Foltynewicz would have gone from having a .339 xwOBA in 2017 to becoming an All-Star in '18.

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Braves dismiss scouting director, advisor

 

ATLANTA -- After establishing himself as one of John Schuerholz's most valuable amateur scouts during the 1990s, Roy Clark mentored Brian Bridges, a man whose fingerprints will be linked to what could be the Braves' next stretch of success.

Unfortunately for Bridges and Clark, they won't be around to reap the rewards of the efforts they made while running the Braves' amateur scouting department during the organization's recent rebuild.

Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos confirmed he dismissed Bridges (director of scouting) and Clark (senior advisor) from their respective positions on Wednesday. The decision comes approximately three months after both signed a one-year extension through the 2019 season.

"The plan was for them to be here," Anthopoulos said. "The more I thought about it over the holidays, I decided I wanted to make this change. It's not fair to have them work and prepare for this year's [MLB Draft] and then cut them loose after the Draft."

Bridges was in the Atlanta airport when he received the news Wednesday afternoon. Other than expressing his love for the Braves and his many friends throughout the organization, he chose not to immediately comment on the decision.

"I'm heartbroken," the Georgia native said. "There aren't too many times you get a chance to work for the team you grew up following and have the opportunity to be around the quality of people the Braves possess. I never played in the big leagues. But I worked for a big league organization that had big league people. I wish the Braves nothing but the best."

Anthopoulos said the decision was not directly linked to last year's MLB investigation of amateur draft improprieties made under the previous front-office regime. He also indicated his decision was not influenced by the Braves not signing last year's first-round pick, Carter Stewart, a left-handed high school pitcher whose wrist became a medical concern after he was taken with the eighth overall pick.

While Anthopoulos was highly complimentary of both men, he spent much more time with Bridges, who joined the Braves in 2007 and became the scouting director after the '14 season, when John Coppolella and John Hart began running Atlanta's baseball operations department.

Bridges played an instrumental role in the selection of Jason Heyward and is credited with the signings of Craig Kimbrel, Alex Wood and Mike Minor. He has run each of Atlanta's past four Drafts. His first year as the scouting director was 2015, when the Braves took Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka, Austin Riley, Lucas Herbert and A.J. Minter.

"[Bridges] is a pro and a great human being," Anthopoulos said. "As an evaluator and a scout, he's one of the best I've ever been around."

Unfortunately for the Braves, the timing leaves them without two of the game's best scouts, just five months before they are slated to have the ninth and 21st overall picks in this year's Draft.

Clark made his mark on the Braves' organization throughout the 1990s and remained with the club through 2009. He then had stints with the Nationals and Dodgers before Coppolella and Hart lured him back to Atlanta to serve as a special assistant to the GM after the '14 season.

Clark maintained that title until the latter portion of 2017, when Coppolella demoted him to the role of special advisor. This seemed to be in response to a disagreement over the '17 Draft in which Clark and Bridges had lobbied for Austin Beck, while Coppolella wanted Keston Hiura taken with the fifth-overall selection.

Once Draft day unfolded, the Braves took advantage of the unexpected chance to take Kyle Wright. Still, while those pre-Draft discussions had lingering effects, they never weakened the indelible bond Bridges shares with Clark.

"He's why I am where I am today," Bridges said. "He influenced my life and many other lives of people from the Braves organization. I am thankful for all he has done for me. He gave me a chance to experience what was my dream job."

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.

Evaluating Braves' outfield options for 2019

 

ATLANTA -- Adding a frontline starting pitcher might be the most influential move the Braves could make this winter. But like with its bullpen, Atlanta has the internal options available to form a rotation that could be at least as effective as the one that brought the Braves last season's National League East crown.

Sticking with the current internal options in the outfield would essentially mean Adam Duvall would be a regular within Atlanta's lineup. So, it can be argued adding an outfielder actually stands as the Braves' most definitive need.

Looking ahead, it's feasible to believe the Braves could enhance their rotation via a trade this winter and possibly wait until July's non-waiver Trade Deadline to strengthen their bullpen. But beyond possibly re-signing Nick Markakis or taking a chance on Carlos Gonzalez, it's not clear how they might fill their outfield need.

Free-agent outfield options

A.J. Pollock
Pollock has not played more than 113 games in any of the three seasons that have followed 2015, when he won an NL Gold Glove Award and earned down-ballot NL Most Valuable Player Award consideration. The 31-year-old outfielder homered once every 19.6 at-bats and produced an adequate .800 OPS over 460 plate appearances (113 games) in 2018. He's still an above-average defender, but his recent health history creates understandable concern.

The Braves have said they won't be deterred by the Draft pick compensation attached to signing any player (Pollock included) who declined a qualifying offer. But unless Pollock's market drops to the point where he's willing to take a contract of less than three years, he shouldn't be considered a realistic option for Atlanta.

Adam Jones
Jones has made it clear he would like to play for the Braves. But given the focus Atlanta places on on-base skills and defense, it's understandable why it has focused its attention on other potential targets. Jones ranked 63rd among qualified outfielders with the 4.3 fWAR (Fangraphs' WAR Model) he produced from 2016-18. The 0.5 fWAR he produced this past summer ranked 52nd out of 56 qualified outfielders.

Nick Markakis
Playing off that last bit of info regarding Jones, it's important to remember Markakis ranked 47th among 52 outfielders with the 0.5 fWAR he produced in 2017. Improved positioning transformed Markakis from a below-average defender to a NL Gold Glove Award winner who ranked 37th among 56 qualified outfielders with 2.6 fWAR this year. The Braves love Markakis as a person and appreciate all he provided over the past four years. But last season's first- (.871 OPS) and second-half (.701 OPS) splits have led Atlanta to continue exploring other options before possibly creating a reunion.

Carlos Gonzalez
Had the Braves been successful with any of their multiple attempts to trade Markakis last winter, there's a chance they may have ultimately signed Gonzalez, who expressed interest in Atlanta, as he spent all of last season working out with Ender Inciarte at the Braves' Spring Training complex. The 33-year-old outfielder ended up producing a .941 OPS at Coors Field and a .663 OPS on the road. If given a choice again this year, the Braves would be more comfortable reuniting with Markakis.

Trade Options
Though many were excited about the possibility the Mariners were going to complete a full liquidation sale, there has never been any indication that Seattle is interested in dealing Mitch Haniger, who would fit exactly what the Braves need to complete an outfield that will include Ronald Acuna Jr. and Inciarte.

If thinking about the possibility of the Yankees including Aaron Hicks in a deal that might include Sonny Gray, it does not currently seem like New York is looking to move Hicks. As for those interested in the possibility of Nicholas Castellanos, the Braves' emphasis on defensive value still seems to dim the chances of Castellanos' bat joining Atlanta's lineup.

The Braves discussed the possibility of acquiring Yasiel Puig, but there was some hesitance about adding the outfielder, who has since been sent to the Reds.

With their prospect riches, the Braves might eventually be able to tempt the Mariners to deal Haniger or perhaps Atlanta can snag an outfielder who becomes expendable to the team that signs Bryce Harper. But for now, it does not appear a trade for an outfielder is imminent.

Mark Bowman has covered the Braves for MLB.com since 2001.