Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop 1/22 – Kelly Johnson Signs
By Jeff Schafer
On National Hug Day, we rank 10 of the most huggable figures in baseball today
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Atlanta Braves fan base should have a bone to pick with MLB.com. They put together a list of the top 10 people in the MLB that they’d like to hug…and NO Freddie Freeman! How do you have a list of anything comparable to hugs and not have FF5? Every time the camera pans over to Freeman, he’s hugging someone else. To not have him on this list is ludicrous. Spoiler Alert: David Ortiz was #1
"Let’s be honest, there should be hugs every day. But on Jan. 21, National Hug Day, there should be many, Manny more. And who better to give you a warm embrace than a Major League Baseball player or mascot?Here are the top 10 people in the game today that we’d like to hug. Leave your favorites in the comments."
Braves bring back Kelly Johnson six years later
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: I may be in with the minority but I really like this signing. The Braves signed Kelly Johnson late last night to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Johnson was part of the “baby Braves” of years past. Atlanta has already acquired this offseason a few second baseman to compete for the job – Alberto Callaspo, Jace Peterson – to go along with Philip Gosselin and number one prospect Jose Peraza. This should be a fun Spring Training watching these position battles play out.
"According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Atlanta has agreed to a minor league deal with Kelly Johnson on Wednesday, a pact, which includes an invitation to spring training.Johnson, who was a first-round pick of the Braves in 2000 and broke into the majors with the team from 2005-09, spent last season with the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles.The nine-year veteran is a career .250/.333/.423 hitter, Johnson is coming off a year in which he hit a career-low .215/.296/.362 and had 14 doubles, seven home runs and two triples in 265 at-bats."
Ex-Red Sox Jonny Gomes Drawing Free-Agent Interest From Braves
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: The Braves outfield destruction, reconstruction, rebuilding, retooling, building – whatever you want to call it – continues. Atlanta is reportedly looking into Jonny Gomes to help inside the locker room as a leader and on the field as a platoon outfielder. Gomes would provide the power and right handed bat that the Braves should be looking for but as a 34-year-old outfielder, I’m not sure how much he will bring to the table.
"The Braves are pursuing free-agent outfielder Jonny Gomes, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. Atlanta reportedly is considering Gomes as a potential platoon option with Zoilo Almonte in left field.The Braves traded outfielders Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis this offseason. Atlanta signed Nick Markakis to a four-year, $44 million contract to play right field, and B.J. Upton likely will start in center field. Left field remains somewhat of a mystery, though, and Gomes would provide veteran leadership in addition to some pop against left-handed pitching.Gomes hit .234 with six homers, 37 RBIs and a .657 OPS in 112 games split between the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics in 2014. He won a World Series title with Boston in 2013, even crushing a memorable home run in Game 4 of the Fall Classic."