Skip to main content

Talking Chop

Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braves

Latest Entries

2025 Atlanta Braves prospect review: Eric Hartman

How was he acquired? Hartman was selected with Atlanta’s 20th round pick in the 2024 draft, using the 611th overall selection on the outfielder from Holy Trinity Academy out of Alberta, Canada. He was given a signing bonus $337,500, which was understandably significantly higher than his slot value. What were the expectations in 2025? When […]

MLB

2025 Atlanta Braves Player Review: Dylan Dodd

We all got pretty excited about Dylan Dodd a few years ago. Selected in the third round of the 2021 draft, the lefty made a few appearances later in the year before blitzing through the minors in 2022, getting all the way to Triple-A. Due to an injury to Kyle Wright, his Spring Training competition […]

How long will Joel Payamps last with the 2026 Braves?

Even on a sleepy pre-Thanksgiving Sunday, the Braves found a way to make minor news by signing Joel Payamps to a one-year, $2.25 million major league deal. The Braves claimed Payamps from the Brewers late in the 2025 season, gave him a couple of appearances before the season ended, and then outrighted him before the […]

Braves News: Braves Sign Joel Payamps, NL East, More

The weekend was quiet for the Braves after a busy few days to end last week. However, another notable move was made for Atlanta, plus an divisional made a major move to help improve its fortunes in 2026. Braves News Atlanta resigned Joel Payamps to a one year deal. It may come as a surprise […]

This Day in Braves History: Earl Williams is named N.L. Rookie of the Year

Braves Franchise History  1971 – Earl Williams, who hit 33 home runs and 87 RBI for the Atlanta Braves, wins the National League Rookie of the Year honors. Williams gets 18 of 24 votes, with the others going to Willie Montañez of the Philadelphia Phillies. 1993 – The Braves trade pitcher Pete Smith to the […]

Braves bring back reliever Joel Payamps

The Atlanta Braves announced this afternoon that they have agreed on a one-year deal with reliever Joel Payamps. Payamps ended the 2025 season after the Braves claimed him off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. Atlanta outrighted him off the 40-man roster earlier this off-season. He’ll return to the Braves with a $2.25M deal in 2026. […]

2025 Atlanta Braves Player Review: Zach Thompson

I’d imagine that if you told Zach Thompson that October 1, 2022 would be the last time he would pitch in a big league game until April 11, 2025, he probably would’ve laughed at you or at least looked at you like you were a weirdo. However, that ended up being the case for Thompson, […]

MLB

What if the 2026 Braves season works out just fine?

We spend a long time here worried about what the winter moves mean and how it will help the team going forward. What if it doesn’t matter because the Braves are just undeniably good? Walt Weiss could be that rock that steadies the ship. Tim Hyers might be a guy that could be allowed to […]

This Day in Braves History: Mets acquire Warren Spahn from Braves

Braves Franchise History 1964 – The Mets purchase Warren Spahn from the Milwaukee Braves. Spahn will serve as part of New York’s coaching staff and will put up a 4-12 record before he is released. Spahn will then sign with the San Francisco Giants.  1998 – The Braves and outfielder Brian Jordan agree on a […]

Braves News: On to Thanksgiving, needs remaining, more

We may be in for a bit of a wait here, after a flurry of Braves moves this week to shore up the infield and bullpen. Alex Anthopoulos still has a stated need to add a starting pitcher, will likely add a few more relievers, and could still add a shortstop or another quality bat. […]

Off-season open thread: November 22

It’s the last Saturday before Thanksgiving, so here’s something to be thankful for, the Águilas Cibaeñas in Liga Dominicana are 19-3 going in to today’s contest. I bet you didn’t think you’d get some LIDOM action on this week-before-rivalry-week in college football, did you? Here a video of old friend Huascar Ynoa, who is trying […]

2025 Atlanta Braves Player Review: Vidal Bruján

It is no secret that the Atlanta Braves struggled at the shortstop position for most of the season. Nick Allen had an elite glove but could not hit. They also struggled with health in the infield, with Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies both missing chunks of time with injuries. The Braves needed some depth, and […]

MLB

Does anybody remember the July 31st game versus the Reds?

Writing the Dane Dunning review, I ran across this July 31st game versus the Reds. Dunning pitched in that game, and it didn’t go great. A little too much BABIP for Dane’s taste and for us fans. This was likely the most certifiably nutty game of the year. Not that it made us nutty, 2025 […]

This Day in MLB History: The Pirates draft Roberto Clemente

MLB History 1954 – The Pirates draft Roberto Clemente from the Triple A roster of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  1957 – Mickey Mantle edges out Ted Williams to win the MVP Award in the American League. Mantle hit .365 with 34 home runs. Williams led the AL with a .388 average, 38 home runs and a […]

Braves News: Non-tender deadline, José Suarez deal, and more

The non-tender deadline has come and gone, and the Atlanta Braves made the decision to tender left-hander Dylan Lee. The two parties did not come to an agreement on a salary, so an arbitration hearing may be in the future.  The Braves non-tendered just two players in right-handers Alek Manoah and Carson Ragsdale. Though non-tendered, […]

Offseason open thread: November 21

Hope everybody’s having a lovely Friday night. It’s been a busy week in Braves Country and now it appears to be winding down. So, which move was your favorite? Let us know! Here’s a random clip:

Braves tender Dylan Lee, non-tender two others

With the deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players, the Atlanta Braves announced that they have non-tendered pitcher Alek Manoah and Carson Ragsdale. That means that they did tender a contract to left-handed reliever Dylan Lee, but did were not able to agree on terms of a contract for 2026. Right-handers Manoah and […]

Braves sign José Suarez to a one-year contract for 2026

With the MLB non-tender deadline ending later today, another move was made in Atlanta. It was just announced that the Atlanta Braves have re-signed left-handed pitcher José Suarez to a one-year contract for the 2026 season. After arriving in Atlanta from the Los Angeles Angels before the start of the season, the lefty had just a […]

2025 Atlanta Braves Prospect Reviews: Cory Wall

How Acquired Cory was drafted by the Braves in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft and signed for $47,500. What Were Expectations? There were few expectations for Cory as he entered the season with just one full season in his belt. That said, Cory was leveraged quite a bit during spring training thanks […]

2025 Atlanta Braves Prospect Reviews: Justin Janas

How Acquired Justin was acquired in 12th round of the 2022 MLB draft (365th overall). What Were Expectations? There were few expectations for Justin as he has mainly been considered organizational depth prospect with a nice strikeout and walk rate. 2025 ResultsIt was more of the same in 2025 for Justin, who found a home […]

2025 Atlanta Braves Player Review: Nathan Wiles

We said we were going to cover every single person who suited up as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 2025 and we mean it. Nathan Wiles made one appearance and pitched all of one (1) inning for the Atlanta Braves in 2025. That’s one more inning than each and every one of us! […]

Mauricio Dubon, Joey Wentz, Eli White agree terms with Braves

Update: Dubon will receive $6.1 million for the 2026 season, per Jon Heyman. Well, if you were wondering to whom the Braves would tender contracts this morning, I have some news. Joey Wentz, Eli White, and the newly acquired Mauricio Dubon have signed contracts with the Braves today. Dubon was the easy choice, as the […]

So, who’s gone after the non-tender deadline?

After Vidal Brujan’s split contract, the Braves have six (seven?) arbitration-eligible players that could be non-tendered by this afternoon’s deadline: Dubon is pretty much a lock because, well, they traded for him and his modest-but-higher-than-Nick-Allen’s-would-have-been arbitration-eligible salary. Lee and White seem like near-locks because they aren’t due very much (likely at or under $2 million) […]

Braves News: Vidal Brujan added, player reviews, and more

The Atlanta Braves made yet another move this week, this time signing infielder Vidal Brujan to a split contract for the 2026 season.  Brujan was acquired by the Braves in August. From there, he appeared in 24 games with a .268 batting average and a perfect fielding percentage. This split contract allows the Braves to […]

This Day in Braves History: John Coppolella gets banned from baseball

Braves History 1911 – William Russell, head of the syndicate that owns the Boston Nationals, dies. No doubt helping his demise was watching his team finish the season with a .291 winning percentage. Former player, now attorney, Monte Ward and New York politician James Gaffney will purchase 945 of the 1000 shares for $177,000. The […]