The Atlanta Braves filled three openings on their coaching staff Monday by promoting Matt Tuiasosopo and Tom Goodwin from the minor leagues and hiring Erick Abreu.
Tuiasosopo, who spent the past three seasons managing at Triple-A Gwinnett, will replace Ron Washington as the Braves third base coach. Goodwin takes over as first base coach from Eric Young after serving two years as a roving instructor in the minors.
Washington was hired as manager of the Los Angeles Angels, and Young departed, as well, to join his coaching staff with the AL club.
Abreu will become Atlanta’s bullpen coach after spending the last nine seasons as a pitching coach in the Houston Astros organization. This is his first appointment to a major league coaching staff.
Abreu replaces Drew French, who left after three years as Atlanta’s bullpen coach to become pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles.
In another tweak to their staff, Atlanta bench coach Walt Weiss will assume the additional role of overseeing the infielders, which had been handled by Washington. Tuiasosopo will assist Weiss in his new duties.
In addition, the Braves are sending $6.26 million to the White Sox along with Max Stassi, covering all of what the catcher is owed next year except for the $740,000 major league minimum salary.
Stassi was traded to the White Sox on Saturday, one day after the catcher was acquired by the Braves in a deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
Chicago will send Atlanta a player to be named or $100,000.
Stassi, 32, did not play this season. He strained his left hip in spring training, and the team said on Sept. 9 that while he was capable of resuming baseball activities, he would miss the rest of the season because of a serious family medical issue.
He is owed a $7 million salary for next season as part of a $17.5 million, three-year contract he signed with the Angels in March 2022. His deal calls for a $7.5 million team option for 2025 with a $500,000 buyout.
Stassi has a .212 career average with 41 homers and 128 RBIs in 10 seasons with Houston (2013-19) and the Angels (2019-23).
Atlanta acquired Stassi and infielder David Fletcher from the Angels on Friday for infielder Evan White and left-hander Tyler Thomas.
Stassi was selected by Oakland in the fourth round of the 2009 amateur draft. He was traded to the Astros in February 2013 as part of a five-player deal.
