Atlanta Braves News: The Morning Chop The Passing Of A Legend

New York Post

MLB’s most bizarre offseason

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  The Atlanta Braves did in fact have a strange offseason.  Many fan favorites from 2014 are elsewhere while many unknown names will fill out the 2015 roster.  Looking back on the winter months, I understand where the front office and John Hart wanted to approach these months…but one question this is still on a lot of people’s minds is why did the Braves feel the need to sign Nick Markakis to a four-year, $44 million contract?  Especially since they knew he would need neck surgery.  I for one like how Markakis plays the game…he’s a scrappy player that hustles no matter the score, you can place in pretty much anywhere in the lineup from leadoff to cleanup, and he’s a veteran that can lead in the clubhouse.  All in all, the signing seems a bit bizarre with all the unloading the Braves did.

"I suspect they will be on many loser lists. But I like organizations that are definitive, and Atlanta gauged its situation (I believe properly) and decided to rebuild. Think of it this way: If Jacoby Ellsbury can get a seven-year $153 million contract as a free agent, then wouldn’t you suspect that Upton’s power and Heyward’s defense/on-base skills would get them at least that much?If so, they weren’t re-signing as free agents with Atlanta after this season, so the Braves could get as much for them as possible now or play the season with them and get compensation in the 2016 draft, when they are desperate to have a contending nucleus in place to open a new stadium in 2017. So the Braves traded that duo plus Gattis, fixating on accumulating young talent, particularly young power-armed starting pitching talent. When the Rays do that, they are regaled for proactive genius. Atlanta reversed from a bottom-10 farm system to arguably a top-10."

The Chattanoogan

Major League Teams Pursuing Top Cuban Players

Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note:  Before you get to excited about the Braves possibly signing this Cuban ballplayer, it’s been reported that the Braves are not interested in signing him.  Atlanta signed Dian Toscano from Villa Clara, Cuba earlier this offseason – he’s currently on the Braves 40-man roster and got an invite to Spring Training but unless he shows up and impresses everyone, he’ll probably start the year off in Gwinnett because of his lack of seeing MLB pitching.

"The recent influx, and success, of Cuban defectors has only heightened the excitement around 19-year-old infielder Yoan Moncada, who was just cleared to sign with the club of his choosing this past week.Moncada is considered the best young Cuban prospect to come along since Yasiel Puig and Jorge Soler signed in 2012, and the bidding will be intense. However, his age and lack of experience in Cuba’s Serie Nacionale means he is subject to the international amateur signing guidelines, which give each team a limited amount of money — based on record the previous season — to spend on signing bonuses for international amateurs in a given year.Teams pursuing Moncada include the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Padres and Tigers, but not the Atlanta Braves."

Twitter

Dean Smith Passing: If you live in the state of North Carolina, like myself, or just a fan of college basketball you’ll understand the following tweets.  Dean Smith was one of the best college basketball coaches to ever be in the game.  Many are currently reflecting on the life of Smith on Twitter this morning