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Talking Chop

https://www.talkingchop.com/ | 588 entries published

Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braves

Latest Entries

Does big money change how you think about baseball?

The big news this week is the Dodgers winning the Kyle Tucker and the Mets grabbing Bo Bichette. It’s some big money. Kyle Tucker is getting that partially deferred 60MM AAV and Bo Bichette is getting an player option protected 43MM AAV. I don’t begrudge them. They’re both at the top of a very high […]

23 days ago | 3 reads

Braves News: Austin Riley 2026 predictions, hot stove, and more

Though a quiet day for the Atlanta Braves, it was a pretty active day for other clubs in the NL East. The Braves may not have made any blockbuster moves on Friday, but the slow day did give us a chance to look at Austin Riley’s 2025 season and gear up for a (hopefully) successful […]

24 days ago | 5 reads

Offseason open thread: January 16

Happy (long) weekend, everybody! I hope it’s off to a lovely start for you. Here’s a random clip for y’all:

24 days ago | 0 reads

What will Austin Riley produce in 2026?

Prior entries: The Braves haven’t had too fun of a time lately. Neither has Austin Riley. This isn’t a pure coincidence — a thermonuclear Austin Riley can carry a team for a month, and the Braves haven’t gotten that, for one reason or another, for a while. While the team has maneuvered to be different […]

24 days ago | 3 reads

Braves News: José Suarez departs, international signing, and more

The Atlanta Braves lost a good source of depth on Thursday, as left-hander José Suarez was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.  The 28-year-old made seven appearances for the Braves last season. He picked up two wins, put together a 1.86 ERA, and recorded one save. In November, he avoided arbitration with the Braves […]

24 days ago | 3 reads

Braves lose pitcher José Suarez on waivers

The Atlanta Braves lost left-handed pitcher José Suarez on waivers to the Baltimore Orioles. Suarez, 28, was a depth option for the Braves as a long-reliever and spot-starter. Atlanta traded for Suarez at the end of last year’s Spring Training in what was essentially a swap of two out-of-option pitchers, with Suarez coming to the […]

MLB

25 days ago | 0 reads

Atlanta Braves 2026 International Free Agent Tracker

Today is January 15 (or the new July 2): The date for the international free agents in the current class to finally sign with their potential future big league clubs. The Braves are in the process of signing their 2025/2026 crop right now. At the moment four players are considered signed, with a number of […]

MLB

25 days ago | 0 reads

Atlanta Braves 2026 Opening Day tickets are now on sale

The Atlanta Braves have just announced their opening day ticket sale on their social media platforms and have a quick process to secure a spot to watch the Braves take on the Kansas City Royals on Friday, March 27th. With the surge of questions looming about streaming platform options to view Braves games, now that […]

25 days ago | 5 reads

Braves ex-broadcaster schemes to carry 9 MLB teams

The Braves don’t currently have a TV partner, as we explained earlier this week. The owners of FanDuel Sports Network have made a last-ditch attempt to carry the nine teams, and boy is it a doozy. Last week, nine MLB teams terminated their contracts with Fanduel Sports Network’s owners after a roughly four-year saga including […]

25 days ago | 4 reads

Braves News: Cam Caminiti, Vidal Brujan, more

Well the options appear to be dwindling for the Braves to grab a starting pitcher, as Ranger Suarez signed a big 5 year $130 million deal with Boston. That said, the buzz has been more on Framber Valdez as a free agent or someone like Freddy Peralta on the trade market for Atlanta lately, so […]

26 days ago | 2 reads

Vidal Bruján claimed off waivers by Twins

Former Atlanta Braves infielder Vidal Bruján was claimed off waivers today by the Minnesota Twins. He had been designated for assignment by the Braves on January 8, 2026. Atlanta claimed Bruján, 27, off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles on August 8, 2025, just days after he’d been claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. He […]

26 days ago | 12 reads

Offseason open thread: January 14

Welcome to tonight’s open thread. Hopefully Wednesday has gone well for everybody here and that your week continues to be a good one. Here’s a random clip:

26 days ago | 2 reads

Braves pitchers and catchers will have first workout on February 10

Folks, we are officially less than a month away from starting to hear the crack of the bat and baseballs hitting mitts once again. It’ll be here before you know it, as Major League Baseball has officially revealed via press release the first workout dates for every team in baseball. As the title mentioned, pitchers […]

26 days ago | 4 reads

What will Bryce Elder produce in 2026?

We’re only a few players deep into this series and… hey, wait a minute! Bryce Elder? Bryce Elder?! We did Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, and Ozzie Albies, but… Bryce Elder? Two of those other three guys struggled, but you can be pretty certain they’ll be hoovering up PAs for the Braves provided they’re healthy. […]

26 days ago | 4 reads

Braves News: Catching options, MLB Network’s Top 100, and more

We are inching toward Spring Training, and the Atlanta Braves are still unsure about the status of catcher Sean Murphy. Murphy underwent season-ending surgery in September after a right hip ailment, and though he may be ready for Opening Day, it’s wise for the Braves to explore other options as a precaution.  From Drake Baldwin […]

26 days ago | 2 reads

Offseason open thread: January 13

Good evening y’all, I hope Tuesday went well for everybody. Here’s a random clip for you and the floor is now yours.

27 days ago | 1 read

Braves catching options if Sean Murphy isn’t ready for 2026 Opening Day

When Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy underwent season-ending surgery last September, there were questions as to how the issue with his hip had gotten so bad without being addressed. Throughout this off-season, Murphy’s availability for Opening Day 2026 was hinted at being in question. This weekend, MLB’s Mark Bowman published an article previewing the Spring […]

27 days ago | 5 reads

What move that you hated worked out okay in the end?

Baseball is, among other things, a series of transactions. Being a baseball fan often involves having feelings about those transactions. Sometimes, those feelings are strong. Baseball also surprises us. If not the perfect blend of predictable and absolutely unpredictable, it’s probably pretty close. Put those two things together, and it means that strong feelings can […]

MLB

27 days ago | 0 reads

Braves News: Trades, Starting Pitching, More

The Braves made a trade on Tuesday. However, it was more minor roster shuffling than anything. Waldichuk was actually claimed last week by Atlanta while Wisely was DFA’d. So this simply was to make room on the roster. However, now with Vidal Brujan and Brett Wisely no longer on the roster, it will be interesting […]

27 days ago | 2 reads

Braves and Rays make (less than) blockbuster trade

The Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays have hooked up for a trade that sends two players recently designated for assignment by the Braves to the Rays for everyone’s favorite cash considerations or the ever elusive player to be named later. Going to the Rays are infielder Brett Wisely, who the Braves claimed off waivers […]

MLB

28 days ago | 0 reads

What we know about Atlanta Braves TV broadcasts in 2026

Trouble has been brewing for quite some time with Main Street Sports Group (MSSG), the company behind FanDuel Sports Network (“FanDuel” — not to be confused with the other FanDuel, which is a gambling outfit), home of dozens of professional sports teams’ regional broadcasts, including the Atlanta Braves. Late last year, MSSG failed to make […]

28 days ago | 0 reads

How many innings will Joe Jimenez pitch in 2026?

Ah, Joe Jimenez. The Braves have gone on a bit of a bullpen construction-slash-reconstruction spree so far this offseason, re-adding Raisel Iglesias and Tyler Kinley while committing big bucks to Robert Suarez. They also brought in Joel Payamps late last season and re-signed him for something notably above league minimum, and Ian Hamilton is hanging […]

28 days ago | 6 reads