MLB NEWS

Braves stick with Gonzalez as manager

The Sports Xchange

October 03, 2014 at 2:33 pm.

Gonzalez will return to manage the Braves next season, interim general manager John Hart announced Friday. Gonzalez's contract runs through the 2015 season. Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Fredi Gonzalez won’t lose his job as Atlanta Braves manager after the team missed the playoffs this year.

Gonzalez will return to manage the Braves next season, interim general manager John Hart announced Friday. Gonzalez’s contract runs through the 2015 season.

The Braves also announced that they hired former Houston Astros manager Bo Porter as their third base, outfield and baserunning coach. He replaced Doug Dascenzo as third base coach.

A decision on Gonzalez’s future wasn’t expected until a new general manager was hired, but the Braves decided not to wait. GM Frank Wren was fired before the final week of the regular season.

In four years as Braves manager, the 50-year-old Gonzalez has guided the Braves to one National League East title and two postseason appearances. Atlanta has a 358-290 record (.552) since Gonzalez took over in 2011.

Before coming to Atlanta, Gonzalez managed the Marlins from 2007 to 2010.

The Astros fired Porter, 42, in September. He will be reunited with Gonzalez after serving as third base coach with the Marlins from 2007 to 2009. Porter also was a third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals.

Assistant hitting coach Scott Fletcher will not return to the Braves next season. Batting coach Greg Walker resigned earlier.