Atlanta Braves GM John Coppolella Talks Rebuild
By Ron Juckett
Atlanta Braves GM John Coppolella took to Twitter to chat with fans about the future of the club.
During a candid conversation with fans Friday on Twitter, Atlanta Braves General Manager John Coppolella discussed the team’s current rebuild and where the team goes from here.
The Braves—last in the National League East, 25-48 and 17.5 games behind the Washington Nationals—leave downtown Atlanta at the end of the season for SunTrust Park in Smyrna. Coppolella answered questions about how the team could be structured by next Opening Day.
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“Invest in the team — we will have more money to spend this offseason than in any of the 10 years I’ve been here.”
He also said:
“We will be trading prospects for pieces, but they will be long-term assets and not rentals.”
Long gone are the free spending days under old owner Ted Turner. The 2016 squad has a payroll of $78.2 million with $48.4 million committed for 2017. Julio Teheran, a pitcher wanted by everybody, is signed through 2019 and costs Atlanta $6.3 million next year.
When asked about trading Teheran, Coppolella tweeted:
“Yes. I don’t see us trading Teheran at this point, he’s almost into ‘right-arm’ type status for us now.”
Considering the Braves hold an option in 2020 for $12 million, moving the bargain-basement ace is not in the team’s best interests.
Whether the Braves have offers to move Freddie Freeman, the face of the franchise, he said:
“None — they know he is off limits.”
In getting last year’s top draft pick Dansby Swanson from the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the Shelby Miller trade, Atlanta’s farm system is stocked. With a boost in income next year as curious fans sample the new ballpark, the Braves should be able to increase payroll some.
The eight free agents on the roster now are mostly cheap role players that either will be easy to re-sign for another year or be replaced.
Even Hector Olivera, suspended until August 2 for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy, is affordable for the Braves going forward. If they keep him, the Los Angeles Dodgers are responsible for $4.67 million annually through 2020 as part of their three-way trade with the Miami Marlins.
Although not revealing anything earth-shattering during his Twitter conversation, Coppolella gave fans a look at how the process works and reassuring them the Braves plan on being competitive again soon. If they could chase a .500 record next year, possible depending how the Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies play the offseason, then Atlanta will be in position to chase the second Wild Card spot. Since firing manager Fredi Gonzalez after a 9-28 start, new skipper Brian Snitker is 16-20. The Braves are better.
Coppolella is a rookie himself, taking the general manager’s job last October. In firing Gonzalez and grabbing top prospects for Miller, he shows the shrewdness needed to build a winning club.
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His direct approach with fans also builds his reputation in Georgia, something needed as the Braves continue to rebuild.