The Braves announced that they have named Matt Tuiasosopo third base coach, Tom Goodwin first base coach and Erick Abreu bullpen coach. Also, bench coach Walt Weiss will have his responsibilities expanded to oversee the club’s infield. These moves finalize the coaching staff under manager Brian Snitker.
Tuiasosopo, 37, played in the big leagues from 2008 to 2016. He continued playing in the minors and independent ball until he retired and transitioned into coaching for the 2019 season. He has managed the Triple-A Gwinnett club for the past three seasons and will now get his first crack at coaching at the big league level on a permanent basis, having briefly filled in for Ron Washington in 2023 while the latter was away from the club. The announcement adds that he will assist Weiss with the infield duties.
Goodwin, 55, has plenty of coaching experience on his résumé. He was the first base coach for the Mets from 2011 to 2017 before jumping to the same role with the Red Sox. He won a World Series in his first year in Boston and stayed with that club through 2021. He has been a roving minor league instructor in Atlanta’s system for the past two years but will now return to the majors.
Abreu, 40, has spent the past nine seasons as a pitching coach for various minor league clubs in the Astros’ system. This is his first appointment to a major league coaching staff.
Atlanta lost their previous third base coach, Washington, when he was tapped to manage the Angels in 2024. He brought Eric Young Sr. with him, which created a vacancy at first base. The bullpen coach vacancy was created when Drew French jumped to the Orioles to be the pitching coach with that club.
The Braves are doing everything possible other than what they need most. Get a starter already!
They will in time & when they do I think it’s gonna be an out of left field acquisition. Someone nobody will expect. Someone no one is talking about.
Patience
In Alex We Trust
He hasn’t failed us yet
The last time the Braves needed a starter, he ended up trading for Jake Odorizzi. I have zero confidence that he will acquire someone worthwhile.
What would you say if he acquired Glassnow or Cease? Eh, I probably shouldn’t prod you after that comment.
I’m with you @TradeAcuna (not the trade acuna part lol)
…the Braves have not added a legit rotation piece while they’re a playoff team since Derek Lowe like 15 yrs ago. Don’t see anything changing, hope I’m wrong
Per MLB Tonight, from @BNightengale on Twitter (or X or something) states, the Corbin Burnes will likely stay put. I couldn’t find it in his feed without an account. Either the brew crew wants a king’s ransom or will give it another push for it all next season. Sounds familiar as to why Fried won’t be traded in his final year.
Burnes and Adames to LAD for a wad of prospects
Who do you want him to trade for and what are you willing to give up to get that player?
Chris Sale if healthy at the deadline fits. They just need him to pitch 5-6 innings per game in the playoffs. Red sox likely out of it anyway. Low acquisition cost.
This will not be an Odorizzi pick up. This will be a Glasgow, Cease, Stroman type pick up. After last season, I think AA realized the young guys weren’t ready. I equate it to Mahomes not having wide receivers. I don’t like the Chief, but if he had WRs, they’d be leading the AFC. But I digress. A healthy pitching staff, one more great starter, and no injuries would sure take some pressure off. The destiny is there for the building. That along with the Ohtani acquisition, makes it an absolute yes that AA will make a move.
I agree with the healthy pitching staff with limited injuries, but it seems that Glasnow might be able to be acquired without including Waldrep or AJSS. I’m assuming Burnes or Cease requires one of them. The problem is Glasnow’s lack of innings as a starter over the years. Although, if he were to stay healthy, it would be a formidable rotation to pair with a juggernaut of offense.
From what I read the White Sox were asking for Grissom, AJ Smith-Shawver, AND Hurston Waldrep.
I can’t say I blame AA for quickly moving on and not circling back yet after that phone call.
AJ Smith-Shawver has already shown he could have what it takes to be just as good as Cease, if not better just by himself. Waldrep, even if he doesn’t harness his control, could at least be a dominant high-value reliever. If he can consistently harness his control than he could easily be a middle to back end type of starter for several years to come as well.
The Braves next wave of pitching prospects after these two is very talented, but they’re also extremely unproven. With so many question marks, you cannot bank on those second wave guys potentially working out for your SP depth moving forward.
That being said, the Braves can go after a top to middle of the rotation type of guy, but they just cannot give up both their top two pitching prospects. These guys are already going to be in AAA starting next season, and they’re both under the age of 23, with AJSS already having ML experience and he’ll only be 21 starting next season…
The Braves need cheap control, and talented and cheap starters to help offset some of their increasing contracts. That us paramount for them to being able to continue their recent strings of division titles and playoff appearances. They can go all-in without sacrificing their future, and I trust AA to get the correct deal done!!
Patience. Most of the high end names are still on the board as are a number of the mid-tier names.
AA will be getting a starter. He’s got everything under control. If you recognize a starter is needed, then surely he does. He made the moves to free up salary to do so. Be patient, and take the season off. Concentrate on your fantasy or drink an IPA.
Probably when the free agent price goes down or a trade in spring training,
Yah. Time is getting tight.
Tuiasosopo is going to be the heir to Snitker
Weiss, IMHO (though Weiss is only 8 years younger than Snit)
Weiss also already had a fairly lackluster run (283-365) managing the Rockies from 2013-’16
Who hasnt had a lackluster run managing the rockies…
Darn it, I wasn’t selected. I would have provided a lot of value AND actually helped them win another WS instead of getting kicked out of the 1st round by the #6 Wild Card team.
The only thing I remember about Tuiasosopo’s career was when Mike Blowers accurately predicted he’d hit a home run during his at bat, and the late great Dave Niehaus completely lost his mind. Super fun baseball moment. Enjoy!
youtu.be/gjBfsCWgTv8?si=rINC4AGMyfiu8Km_
HELP WANTED: STARTING PITCHERS!
CONTACT ALEX ANTHOPOLIS AT ATLANTA BRAVES, MLB!
THE BRAVES CANNOT ADVANCE IN PLAYOFFS WITH AAA PITCHERS STARTING GAMES! AFTER ’24 SEASON, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE CHARLIE MORTON (WILL BE 41), & MAX FRIED & POSSIBLY AA TO THE DODGERS AS ALL THESE CONTRACTS WILL BE UP AFTER ’24!
SO PLEASE AA DO SOMETHING BETWEEN NOW & SPRING TRAINING!
Geez. Calm down already.
No need to yell, we got the message. Starting pitching.
Help Wanted: someone to fix ABraves23’s capslock key.
I WOULD APPROACH MARK DEROSA TO BE THE HEIR TO BRIAN SNITKER AS NEXT MANAGER, NOT THESE IN-HOUSE GUYS! ROLL THE DICE ON DEROSA! HE DID PRETTY GOOD FOR USA IN THE WBC! PARDON ME SNIT, BUT YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER!
Mark DeRosa was drafted and developed by the Braves. =)
Unreadable when all caps bro
@Brew88: ABraves23 has stated several times that he has a vision problem. He’s unable to read smaller print.
What to do if Caps Lock is stuck?
Using Fn + Shift + F3
Don’t throw the machine out the window in frustration because you won’t have to start all over again. Highlight the entire text in caps lock, hold down the Fn and Shift keys together, then press F3. The entire text will change into lower case magically
No more Wash to coach the Braves players. Not a Braves fan, but he had kind of become a fixture there…
Okayb
It could always be worse with a starting pitching staff with Jake Odorizzi, Tommy Milone, and Kenshin Kawakami.. Tommy Milone may still be available as a free agent too!
Remember when Tui was covering for Wash last season when Wash was being induced into a hall of fame? I remember the team absolutely ignoring him and running through his stop signs. He looked neutered out there.
Is he related to Manu?