The Atlanta Braves have named John Hart president of baseball operations. Hart had been serving as the interim General Manger for the Braves, after Frank Wren got fired in September. Hart agreed to a three-year contract that will continue through the Braves first season in their new stadium in 2017.
John Schuerholz said it was his “best negotiation of his entire career” and I agree with him, Hart had been saying for weeks that he didn’t want the job. What I find funny is as soon as the Braves give him the title president of baseball operations, he accepts the job, what is wrong with being called the General Manger. John Coppolella, who was the assistant GM under Wren, will be Hart right-hand man. It will be interesting to see if the Braves go the traditional route and hire a GM to handle the day to day activities. If they do decide to do that, you have to think the man for the job is Coppolella.
John Hart, is the former GM of the Indians, Rangers, and he joined the Braves last season as a senior advisor. Hart was the GM in Cleveland, during their great run in the 90’s. The Indians made it to the World Series in 1995 and 1997, losing to the Braves and the Marlins. Hart took the job in Texas, after Doug Melvin left in 2001. The Rangers were not very successful, while he was the GM, going 311-337, and never making the playoffs. The Rangers did keep Hart on as a senior advisor until 2013, and during that span the Rangers made it to the World Series twice.
Hart is fortunate to have a lot of talent in Atlanta, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make some serious moves this offseason.
There has already been talks of Jason Heyward and Justin Upton being traded, and we know that Atlanta is trying to shop B.J. Upton. The Braves have more questions than answers right now and it could be a tough job to get them back on the right path. They’re lacking the veteran leadership they had in 2013, and will need to got out and find a few players that can lead these younger players. This could have been a very different season if the Braves could have keep a guy like Tim Hudson.
