Tanner, Fired by Pirates Monday, Is Hired to Manage Braves

Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner announced Thursday that Chuck Tanner has become manager of the National League club under a five-year contract.

Turner, who had an hour-long meeting with Tanner and team President Bill Bartholomay, said that John Mullen would remain as general manager “right now, the way things are.” But Tanner will have a lot of control, Turner said.

Tanner, who was fired Monday after eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, replaced Bobby Wine, who took over as manager in August when Eddie Haas was fired.

Tanner will be the 13th manager since the Braves moved to Atlanta from Milwaukee 20 years ago. Three of the former managers were hired on an interim basis in late-season moves.

“I wanted him to come, and he wanted to come,” Turner said. “It didn’t take long to get together.”

Since his firing at Pittsburgh, Tanner has been mentioned as a candidate for other baseball jobs, but he said he came to the Braves because, “first of all, they wanted me. It’s nice to be wanted. It didn’t take long; it was a quick agreement.

“We shook hands. That was our contract.”