Braves trade pitcher Derek Lowe

Braves pitcher Derek Lowe was booed off the mound in his last start of the season, stripped of a guaranteed spot in the rotation shortly thereafter, and ultimately traded to Cleveland, completing a tailspin to close out his tumultuous three-year stint with the Braves.

The Braves traded the 38-year-old Lowe on Monday to the Indians, who have agreed to pay $5 million of the $15 million Lowe is owed in 2012 in the final year of his contract. The Braves, who will cover the remaining $10 million, got minor league pitcher Chris Jones in return.

With the additional $5 million they cleared in this deal, the Braves are believed to have about $10 million to purse additions at shortstop and the corner outfield.

Braves' Lowe traded to Cleveland

Sporting News Names Braves Kimbrel NL Rookie of the Year

The selection of fireball closer Craig Kimbrel as the Sporting News' National League Rookie of the Year gives the Atlanta Braves hope that despite their epic collapse down the stretch in 2011 the future still looks bright.

Kimbrel broke the major league record for saves in his rookie season, ending up tied for the National League lead with 46 saves. The 23-year old had a 4-3 record with a 2.10 ERA and finished the season with a strong lead in strikeouts among relievers with 127 in his 77 innings pitched.

Sporting News Tabs Kimbrel NL Rookie of the Year

Braves bring in Dascenzo to coach speed in the minors

The Atlanta Braves hiring of Texas League manager of the year Doug Dascenzo as their minor league base running and outfielder coordinator is a clear demonstration of their new team emphasis on speed.

Dascenzo played in the major leagues as an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, Texas and San Diego in parts of seven seasons. He also stole 30 or more bases for five straight years as a minor leaguer. He began his coaching career as a base running and outfielder coordinator in the Padres system in 1999.

The Braves have recently shifted both their major and minor league strategies to concentrate on building speed in the organization, after years of ranking toward the bottom of the league in stolen bases.

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Yahoo Sports: Braves bring in Dascenzo for organizational speed

Chipper Jones as Braves hitting coach?

The Atlanta Braves will interview Greg Walker, formerly of the White Sox, this week in the effort to fill their vacancy as hitting coach. Walker had done good work in Chicago, although he was criticized for his inability to reach prized prospect Gordon Beckham and the famous flailer Adam Dunn.  (An aside: Dunn was whiffing 190 times a year long before he met Walker.)

Greg Walker? He’d be a good hire. But there’s a guy I keep hearing touted for the job who’s already in-house, and I wanted to address that today. His name: Larry Wayne Jones Jr.

Mark Bradley: Chipper as Braves hitting coach?