Braves choose Fredi Gonzalez to replace Bobby Cox

[Dpantherman]

The Atlanta Braves have hired former Florida Marlins skipper Fredi Gonzalez as manager, two sources told the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.

Longtime Braves manager Bobby Cox retired Monday after the Braves were eliminated from the playoffs by the Giants. Cox will have a press conference at Turner Field on Wednesday and Gonzalez will be introduced on Thursday, according to the paper.

Gonzalez was was fired in June after 3½ years as the Marlins manager, having posted a 276-279 record with one of baseball's lower payrolls but apparently running afoul of owner Jeffrey Loria for benching star shortstop Hanley Ramirez for a lack of hustle.

Gonzalez was a minor league manager in the Braves organization and did an apprenticeship as Cox's third-base coach from 2003-06. He still lives in suburban Atlanta, remained tight with Cox and frequently turned up at Turner Field after being dumped by the Marlins.

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