The Braves have jettisoned numerous marquee names — and their equally extravagant contracts — over the past year. Now the man behind much of that maneuvering is getting a promotion.
The team will announce Thursday afternoon that John Coppolella has been elevated to general manager from the assistant GM role he has filled for about three years, MLB.com reports. Longtime baseball executive John Hart will continue to oversee baseball operations from his role as president, but the move solidifies Coppolella's place in Atlanta's hierarchy.
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Coppolella was heavily involved in the deals that sent Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, Jason Heyward, Melvin Upton Jr. and others out of Atlanta, helping cut the Braves' opening day payroll from $112 million in 2014 to $97 million this year.
The 37-year-old joined the Atlanta front office in 2006 as director of baseball operations and was promoted to pro scouting director in 2011 and added the assistant GM title in the fall of 2012.
Coppolella began his baseball career in 2000 as an intern with the Yankees, just out of Notre Dame — and held down a second job at Chili's to pay the bills before moving into a full-time role with the team.
He was mentioned as a potential candidate for GM openings in Houston, Milwaukee and Seattle in recent years.
