MLB: Ranking the decade’s best general managers
By Bill Felber
MLB: Ranking the decade’s best general managers
5. Frank Wren, +83.9 games (Atlanta Braves, 2010-14)
Frank Wren fell into a wonderful situation in Atlanta, and for several seasons had the skill, sense or luck not to screw it up. That success finally ended in 2014 when the Braves collapsed and Wren was fired as part of an organizational house-cleaning.
A minor leaguer in the Expos system following a couple of years at St. Petersburg Junior College, his admittedly fleeting hopes for hitting the big time were waylaid at the tender age of 22 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Following his recovery, Wren became a minor league coach, beginning a to-decades long hegira through various front offices capacities, including a brief stint as general manager of the Baltimore Orioles.
Schuerholz believed in Wren, bringing him in to be his top assistant in 2000. That gave Wren a lengthy apprenticeship that finally ended when Schuerholz became team president in 2007 and Wren took over the GM duties.
His Atlanta tenure produced three post-season appearances, although none extended beyond the division round. Wren was a major part of the 2012 wild card berth and 2013 NL East title, creating combined short-term and long-term impacts exceeding +25 games on both teams.
His products included Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, and Craig Kimbrel.