Major League Baseball

Wren dismissed as Braves general manager

Published Sep. 22, 2014 11:00 a.m. ET

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Cory McCartney

ATLANTA -- The Braves had lost their way, and this was about restoring it.

The team's late-season collapse claimed its first casulaties with Monday's dismissal of general manager Frank Wren and Bruce Manno, the assistant GM and director of player development.

In the bowels of Turner Field, team president John Schuerholz, Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox and John Hart -- who will server as the interim GM -- discussed a franchise off course, "a cumulative effect over time" that leaves the future of manager Fredi Gonzalez up in the air.

"The Braves Way has been an organization's philosophy for many, many years," Schuerholz said. "Bobby and I working together for 17 years as general manager and manager lived the Braves Way every day. People in our organization, in the farm department, scouting organization, lived the Braves Way.

"It is our goal and our emphasis to find that Braves Way again."

Wren, who's contract ran through next season, was let go one day after a 10-2 loss to the Mets, which eliminated Atlanta from playoff contention. A half-game behind the Nationals on July 29, the Braves are now 15 games back.

But there was no tipping point in the decision-making process. Schuerholz said after examining the franchise, both at the major-and minor-league levels, that a change was needed.

"It was time. It was time for the organization's well-being," Schuerholz said. "It was time we thought, having been eliminated from any postseason possibility, rather than wait. It would give us an opportunity to form our committee and begin this transition a week sooner."

Wren joined the Braves in 1999 as vice president and assistant general manager under Schuerholz before taking over the reigns in 2007. He is the first manager or GM fired by the organization since 1990.

He would oversee three playoff berths (2010, '12 and '13) and since '11, only the Cardinals and Tigers have more regular-season wins. Wren also set the stage for the team's move to its new Cobb County stadium in '17 in locking up first baseman Freddie Freeman, closer Craig Kimbrel, shortstop Andrelton Simmons and starting pitcher Julio Teheran to deals totaling $267.4 million.

His tenure also included contracts that have drawn criticism.

The Braves traded for Dan Uggla in '11 and proceeded to sign him to a five-year, $62 million deal. But the team released him in July and still owes the second baseman $18 million.

In '12, center fielder B.J. Upton was inked to the largest free-agent contract in franchise history at five years, $75.25 million, and has hit .197/.276/.311 as a Brave.

There were also contracts doled out to right-handers Derek Lowe ($60 million) and Kenshin Kawakami ($23 million) that did not end well.

Wren built a team around pitching and power at the plate, a template that worked to perfection last year as the Braves won the National League East by 10 games over Washington.

But this season things didn't pan out, with the lineup producing just 118 home runs (24th in MLB) and 3.57 runs per game (29th), figures that couldn't aid a pitching staff that produced 107 quality starts, the most in baseball.

A full evaluation of the franchise, led by the transition team of Cox, Hart and Schuerholz, was a common theme throughout Monday's presser.

Part of that process includes looking at Gonzalez, who has been no assurances that he will be back as manager.

"We have not spoken to him about that particular matter," Schuerholz said. "What we will do as our transition team is to take our time and evaluate this organization from top to bottom when we get to the point where decisions are made and we need to communicate with people, we'll do that then."

But Gonzalez, who has gone 355-286 (.554) in four seasons, has the support of Cox, his predecessor in the Braves dugout.

"I think Fredi has done a remarkable job since he's taken over from me in 2011," Cox said. "I think he's just been outstanding. There were difficult times, even last year to win 96 games with things that were taking place."

As attention turns to finding Wren's replacement, expect Royals GM Dayton Moore's to be a popular name. A disciple of Schuerholz, who has thrived in one of baseball's smallest markets and has Kansas City eyeing its first spot in the postseason since 1985. Braves assistant GM John Coppolella will be another top candidate to keep an eye on.

Then there's veteran Hart, a key piece in the Braves' maneuvers to lock up its young talent, a plan Hart utilized during Cleveland's success in the 1990s.

Hart was non-committal on whether he will pursue the position full-time, saying "it's a little early in the game to begin thinking that far ahead."

While there is no set timetable on the process, Schuerholz said they expect that individual to be present at the GM meetings, which take place in early November.

"It's about the baseball calendar, but whether (the decision takes) a month or less than a month, I'm not certain yet," he said. "If we find the right guy early, the decision won't take that long to make."

Seated at Monday's presser was Braves CEO Terry McGuirk, who in August foreshadowed major change in the franchise by telling 'Atlanta Journal-Constitution' that "Everybody is accountable' for this season's woes.

It was Wren who paid that price, bringing an end to his 15-year run with the Braves. Now, the only question is whether the erstwhile GM will be alone in that regard.

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