The Atlanta Braves got so much more than Hector Olivera from the Dodgers

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Jul 21, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; A baseball, baseball glove and baseballs are shown on the infield during batting practice before the game against the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Hire the Man, Then the Player

When John Schuerholz was interested in acquiring Raul Mondesi in 2005 – after Mondesi had lots of personal off-the-field issues and had the potential to be a clubhouse liability – Schuerholz charged his special assistant Jose Martinez to meet with Mondesi.

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Schuerholz wanted Martinez to find out what kind of man he was before the Braves made any kind of decision to bring him to Atlanta.

In Schuerholz’s book, Built To Win, he writes about what he told Martinez before he was sent to the Dominican Republic to meet with Mondesi. Jose actually told Schuerholz that going after Mondesi was a bad idea. But because people are human and have the ability to change, Schuerholz was determined to at the very least send Jose to meet with him.

"“Jose, I want you to sit across the room from him and look him in the eye and find out what kind of guy he is and whether or not we should sign him. You tell him what kind of environment we have here. You tell him what kind of expectations for players are here and see how he reacts to that. Then I want you to tell me at the end of that conversation if he’s the kind of guy we want to add to this team.”"

In his book, Schuerholz goes on to explain how Jose listened to Raul for over an hour telling Jose how he’s a good man and a better man that he used to be.

Jose flew back to Atlanta, told Schuerholz that he was wrong, and the Braves signed him to a humble $1 million deal.

That’s how the Atlanta Braves handle their business and still do. Are they perfect? Well, of course not. But when the Braves were interested in Cuban super star, Hector Olivera, John Coppolella sent then Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez to have a similar type meeting with Hector.

Fredi came back to Coppolella with a positive personnel report and the Braves went after him.

Next: The Bravos got more than Olivera from the Dogders

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