Latest news and updates about the Braves
The Atlanta Braves did not have a great time on the hill (or otherwise) in 2025, finishing 23rd in fWAR. A lot of that was injuries, a lot of that was an inflated HR/FB rate that took the staff, such as it was, from the league’s 12th-best xFIP- to a 22nd-best FIP-, and some of […]
From Talking Chop | 8 days ago | 0 reads
Good morning A’s fans! The next major free agent reliever has signed, and no it wasn’t with the A’s. The first big domino to fall was right-handed reliever Raisel Iglesias, who reupped with the Atlanta Braves on a one-year pact a couple of weeks ago. That’s seemed to trigger a quick succession of signings. The […]
From Athletics Nation | 8 days ago | 1 read
Braves Franchise History 1963 – The Milwaukee Braves acquire outfielder Felipe Alou, catcher Ed Bailey, pitcher Ernie Bowman and infielder Ernie Bowman from the Giants in exchange for catcher Del Crandell and pitchers Bob Hendley and Bob Shaw. 1974 – The Braves send catcher Jim Essian to the White Sox in exchange for Dick Allen […]
From Talking Chop | 9 days ago | 2 reads
How Acquired Kade was the 307th pick I the 2025 MLB Draft and was signed for $2,500.What Were Expectations?Due to a lengthy injury history, there were absolutely no expectations for Kade upon signing for the Braves. After pitching in 17 games his freshman year at Alabama, the next two years for Kade were tough as […]
From Talking Chop | 9 days ago | 1 read
How Acquired The Braves signed Rolddy Munoz in the same 2017-18 international free agent class as his twin brother Roddery, giving him a $20k signing bonus – or $10k less than his brother.What Were Expectations? After spending the 2024 year mostly in Double-A, after initially being in High-A, the expectation for Munoz this year was […]
From Talking Chop | 9 days ago | 0 reads
How Acquired Cooper was an undrafted free agent signed by the Braves following the 2025 MLB Draft. What Were Expectations?After a strong collegiate career, Cooper went undrafted so while the potential is there, the expectations were not. 2025 Results In his final year at Auburn, Cooper appeared in 61 games and hit a robust .326/.431/.588 […]
From Talking Chop | 9 days ago | 1 read
Things the Braves love: 1) reunions; 2) relievers with roster flexibility. On Tuesday morning, the Braves were able to, if not outright kill two birds with one stone, at least lightly wound them, or something. Let’s get the main thing out of the way, first: Danny Young had Tommy John Surgery in May, so this […]
From Talking Chop | 9 days ago | 2 reads
As the Winter Meetings are just days away, the closer market in free agency continues to be red hot. The Mets signed former Brewers and Yankees closer Devin Williams to a 3 year deal on Monday. So the three NL East Powers now have Jhoan Duran, Rasiel Iglesias, and Williams as their closers. It will […]
From Talking Chop | 10 days ago | 0 reads
Braves Franchise History 1942 – The Boston Braves acquire shortstop Eddie Joost and pitcher Nate Andrews from the Reds in exchange for shortstop Eddie Miller. 2005 – The Atlanta Braves agree to terms with third baseman Chipper Jones on a three-year contract. MLB History 1916 – The National Commission orders that injured players shall receive […]
From Talking Chop | 10 days ago | 2 reads
How Acquired Ethan Workinger was a non-drafted free agent signed by the Braves in 2020. What Were Expectations? After posting a .561 OPS for Double-A Mississippi in 2024, there were not any expectations for Ethan heading into the 2025 season.2025 Results Ethan was a key starter for the Columbus Clingstones, appearing in 120 games. He […]
From Talking Chop | 10 days ago | 1 read
Thinking about the 2026 Braves from a forecasting perspective is a pretty fraught exercise. You could say, “Hasn’t it generally been a fraught exercise?” But, honestly, not really! The 2018 Braves were forecasted to be largely irrelevant. They surprised everyone and pulled off a once-in-a-generation-for-a-franchise turnaround. Did that carry over into 2019? Well, not really […]
From Talking Chop | 10 days ago | 1 read
Generally-speaking, I’m not a huge fan of reliever extensions and long-term contracts, unless you’re one of the tippy-top relievers in the game. They’re too volatile, and their lifespans in the game are too short. but sometimes, you get a super cheap one that you can’t pass up, and the Chicago White Sox got one of […]
From Talking Chop | 10 days ago | 1 read
It’s Andruw Jones’ ninth time on the ballot. In his first six times, he received 7.3%, 7.5, 19.4, 33.9, 41.4, 58.1, 61.5% and 66.2 last year. He’s closing in on the 75% needed, but he’s on his second last chance. Jones came up with the Braves at the same time Vladimir Guerrero, Sr. did for […]
From Bluebird Banter | 10 days ago | 1 read
Question’s in the title, pretty much. Kyle Tucker is very good — he’s had five consecutive seasons between 4 and 5 fWAR, and he could’ve possibly cleared 5 in three of those seasons if not for some xwOBA underperformance there. He’s also the relatively rare star that has hit free agency before turning 30, which […]
From Talking Chop | 11 days ago | 2 reads
Meet the Mets He’s been a bit of a popular name on the trade rumor mill this offseason, but if Kodai Senga had his way, he would prefer to still be a Met when Opening Day comes around. Around the National League East It is never a bad day to think about Braves reliever and […]
From Amazin' Avenue | 11 days ago | 1 read
Braves Franchise History 1912 – Boston Braves owner James Gaffney purchases the Allston Golf Club on Commonwealth Avenue with a plan to construct a ballpark there. Groundbreaking will take place on March 20, 1915. 1998 – Free agent outfielder Otis Nixon is signed by the Atlanta Braves. The speedster Nixon was a starter for Atlanta […]
From Talking Chop | 11 days ago | 1 read
While it may seem a bit odd, December typically is one of the most exciting months on the baseball calendar. The Winter Meetings is typically the peak of off-season activity, and we are just a week away from the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings starting. This does not mean that moves will stop until then, but […]
From Talking Chop | 11 days ago | 1 read
2025 was the second full season in a Braves uniform for Pierce Johnson and the outcome was pretty similar to how things had gone for him in his first full season, and really his overall tenure since he got traded to the Braves. Usually that’d be enough to stick around for another year — especially […]
From Talking Chop | 11 days ago | 2 reads
Alex Anthopoulos did manage to kick off the Braves hot stove season with Mauricio Dubón, Raisel Iglesias, and other cost-controlled pieces of the bullpen. This will take a while though, so what else are we watching? Football and basketball are easy guesses. I just can’t get up for college basketball until late January though, and […]
From Talking Chop | 12 days ago | 0 reads
Braves Franchise History 1961 – Braves catcher Joe Torre finishes second in the Rookie of the Year race in the National League to Cubs outfielder Billy Williams. 1970 – The Braves acquire 48-year old knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm from the Cubs in exchange for minor league first baseman Hal Breeden. 1999 – Braves minor leaguer Roger […]
From Talking Chop | 12 days ago | 2 reads
Braves News Ronald Acuna is in Venezuela (where things are getting…tense geopolitically) playing baseball, and hit a huge homer, his first of the winter season. We took a look at Nacho Alvarez’ resurgent 2025 season, in which he looked much more like a real major league player, if perhaps only a depth option. MLB News […]
From Talking Chop | 12 days ago | 2 reads
Braves Franchise History 1966 – The Braves acquire Clete Boyer from the Yankees in exchange for outfielder Bill Robinson and pitcher Chi-Chi Olivo. MLB History 1936 – Judge Landis declares Reds players Lee Handley and Johnny Peacock are free agents after they were covered up on minor league teams by Cincinnati. 1957 – Mayor Robert […]
From Talking Chop | 13 days ago | 2 reads
Major League Baseball is in a bit of a lull now, but not for long, as the Winter Meetings are gearing up to kick off in Orlando on December 7. Hot stove action is just around the corner, but until then, we have a player review of Atlanta Braves reliever Hunter Stratton. MLB News: The […]
From Talking Chop | 13 days ago | 3 reads
The Atlanta Braves had a rough season, in part due to injuries to key players. According to Spotrac, we’re talking 17 players, paid approximately $47 million, missing in action across 1,169 combined days of play. (Amazingly, the dollar total is somehow only the eighth-highest in MLB). Since injuries were tilted to the pitching end, we […]
From Talking Chop | 13 days ago | 5 reads
Braves History 1957 – Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves wins the Cy Young Award as the major leagues’ top pitcher almost unanimously. His only competition for the title is Dick Donovan, of the Chicago White Sox, who receives one vote. 1961 – The Milwaukee Braves traded slugger Frank Thomas to the New York Mets […]
From Talking Chop | 14 days ago | 3 reads