The Braves continued their in-house spending spree today by extending both manager Fredi Gonzalez and general manager Frank Wren, according to an announcement made by the team on Wednesday. According to reports, the terms of the signing were not announced because the front office wanted to "keep the focus on the field."
Braves extend manager Fredi Gonzalez and GM Frank Wren
This continues the succession of extensions that started at the beginning of the month given to key players for the resurgent franchise.
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Wren and Gonzalez -- the 2008 Manager of the Year -- are coming off a season where they helped lead a young Braves team to 96 wins and the NL East division title, and were both entering the final years of their current deals. Despite that, Gonzalez says that he would have been fine entering this season without signing a new pact. Though he’s definitely happy it happened, telling the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s David O’Brien, “It was a nice thing that the Braves did. But I’ve never worried about that last-year-of-the-contract type deal because, hell, for all the years in the minor leagues and as a [major league] coach, you’re on a one-year contract. I never worried about that.”
The contracts mark the latest chapter in the Braves' resurgence, both in the standings and at the negotiating table. Only three days ago, the organization signed phenom closer Craig Kimbrel to a four-year, $42 million dollar deal. Other recent re-ups have included first baseman Freddie Freeman, who signed a franchise-record eight-year, $135 million extension on the same day that outfielder Jason Heyward signed his two-year, $13.3 million version -- February 5th.
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Following several down years after their remarkable mid-90’s-mid 00’s run of 14 straight division titles, the combination of Wren and Gonzalez have helped the squad show steady improvement since reaching their current positions with the team in 2007 and 2010, respectively. This is the third contract with the team as their GM for Wren, who signed a two-year extension with the team following his initial four-year deal and the second for Gonzalez.
The next big name up for Atlanta appears to be much-heralded young shortstop Andrelton Simmons, especially amongst fans. Simmons, a 24-year old Dutch Caribbean product is the reigning Gold Glove winner and is widely considered one of the best defensive players in the game and has expressed interest in the extension as well. With an thunderous offense, and young pitchers like Kimbrel and Kris Medlen, it appears the team is set for the future in many key areas. With the Phillies in serious decline, the Mets in an uphill struggle, the Nationals apparently in flux and the Marlins insistent on being the Marlins, the glory days of the 90's Braves seem within reach once again. Hopefully with more than one World Series trophy to show for it.
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