Braves extend Fredi and staff through 2016

ATLANTA -- The Braves announced Friday that they have extended manager Fredi Gonzalez's contract through the 2016 season, with a club option for '17.

"I know that when we came in and we began to do work together this winter we made a decision that we were going to bring him back I think very early on in the game," said Braves President of Baseball Operations John Hart. "As you begin to work with somebody you begin to get a feel for who they are, what dots they connect."

In addition to Gonzalez's extension, the Braves have extended the other members of their coaching staff through 2016, with a club option for '17.

"I [am] really, really proud that our organization stepped up and did that for the coaching staff," Gonzalez said. "There [aren't] too many organizations in baseball -- or any sports -- that give an extension halfway through the season to the coaches.

"Believe me, those guys are appreciative. I'm appreciative of that, and hopefully the organizations out there follow suit."

Gonzalez's contract was set to expire at the end of this season, but since joining Atlanta for the 2011 season, he has consistently been supported by the front office.

In 4 1/2 seasons with the Braves, Gonzalez has managed the team to a 400-337 record (.543 winning percentage), one National League East Division title (2013) and also reached the 2012 NL Wild Card Game.

Gonzalez said that it was nice to have an additional year of security, but that the extension didn't change how he went about managing the Braves.

'The way we went about our business, the way we did our work, the relationship with the players, it didn't change anything I don't think," he said. "It's just nice to know.

"At the end of the day you can still get fired. You've got a year of security under your belt, but other than that I think it's a nice gesture for our organization, our leadership team -- who's doing a hell of a job getting this thing built the right way -- to give that to us."

While talking about Gonzalez's extension, Hart took most of the blame for the poor bullpen -- which has the second-worst ERA in baseball -- the Braves have had this season.

"We didn't give him a bullpen, obviously we traded Craig Kimbrel Opening Day," Hart said. "I think it's been really difficult to manage the bullpen.

"I think Fredi's done as good a job as he can with the bullpen. So I think this is something that all along you look up and you go, 'What do you expect in a manager? What do you want in a manager?' And I think Fredi's demonstrated what we wanted to see."