MLB Investigation Forces Atlanta Braves GM And Chief Scout To Resign

Major League Baseball (MLB) launched an investigation in September targeting the Atlanta Braves over MLB rule violations. John Hart, president of the Atlanta Braves stated that the team cooperated with the investigation and did not expect any serious lapses to be highlighted.

However the MLB investigation has shown that a number of serious violations has been committed by the Braves and those breaches have been brought to the attention of Hart and general manager John Coppolella in the last 72 hours.

Hart did not confirm what those violations entailed but there is speculation that the MLB was investigating breaches to international player hiring.

Hart said that the investigations showed that no criminal activity had taken place but major violations to MLB rules had been made. The President stated that it was disappointing to learn of these violations and more importantly it also showed that these violations also breached the set of ethics and rules that the Braves stood for and followed.

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In light of these allegations, GM Coppolella has put in his resignation which has been accepted. Gordon Blakeley who served as the Chief International Scout and assistant to the GM has also submitted his resignation. Hart will now take over the responsibility of the GM post on an interim basis till the Braves find a new GM.

Hart confirmed that no agreement was made with the MLB with regards to the Braves receiving a lesser penalty for Coppolella’s resignation. The MLB investigation has more or less been completed and based on the findings, the Braves were forced to accept the resignations and move
on.

The MLB gives franchises a salary cap on the amount of money they can spend on international players. A number of MLB teams in recent times have focused their attention on international players and have been ready to spend piles of money to recruit international talent. Coppolella brought on 13 international players in 2016 and one of those signings was 16 year old Kevin Maitan. The Venezuelan player was considered the hottest international amateur player and the Braves signed him for a $4.25 million bonus – which is the highest that a player from Venezuela has received.

Coppolella joined the Braves in 2006 as the director of baseball operations and has been with them since. The Braves have continued to struggle in MLB losing more than 90 games for three consecutive years.