The Braves announced Wednesday that they have exercised an option for 2014 on manager Fredi Gonzalez. Gonzalez is 183-141 since taking over for Bobby Cox before the start of the 2011 season and led the Braves to the National League Wild Card Game this past summer. In other words, it's a well-deserved extension.

Braves general manager Frank Wren is hopeful that Brian McCann (shoulder) will only miss the first couple of weeks of next season. The Braves on Tuesday officially picked up McCann's $12 million club option for 2013 even though the catcher just had surgery on his right shoulder two weeks ago. "We'll know more in spring training," Wren said. "We're still probably looking at early April before doctors will turn him loose." The Braves ideally would like to bring back David Ross as protection for McCann, though Ross could have a shot at a starting job elsewhere.

Braves exercised C Brian McCann's $12 million club option for 2013. It was never really in doubt, even after his recent shoulder surgery. McCann batted just .230/.300/.399 with 20 homers, 67 RBI and a .698 OPS in 121 games this year and could be at risk for missing the start of the 2013 season. Still, the Braves couldn't risk letting him go and bouncing back elsewhere.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Braves are expected to announce Tuesday that they have picked up the club options on Brian McCann, Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm. Not a surprise in the bunch. McCann's option is worth $12 million, so he's a bit of a risk coming off shoulder surgery, but the Braves don't want him to get a sniff of free agency. Hudson's option is worth $9 million while Maholm's checks in at $6.5 million.

David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constituation reports that Brian McCann will face six months of rehab following surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday. O'Brien says McCann's labrum tear was "slightly larger than the MRI had shown." Opening Day is less than six months away, so it sounds like McCann will miss at least the first few weeks of the season, and, in all likelihood, a bit more. Prior to the surgery, the Braves reportedly were planning on picking up McCann's $12 million option for 2013, and that's probably still the case even though he'll miss a bit more time than originally anticipated.

Brian McCann will undergo surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday. Braves general manager Frank Wren said after the season that he didn't believe McCann would need surgery, but that was pending an MRI exam. And doctors evidently found enough damage to recommend surgery. McCann will likely need a length rehab, but the Braves are still expected to exercise his $12 million option for 2013. The 28-year-old backstop batted just .230/.300/.399 with 20 homers, 67 RBI and a .698 OPS in 121 games this year.

Braves GM Frank Wren said he doesn't believe Brian McCann will need offseason shoulder surgery. McCann told reporters earlier this week that he expected to undergo surgery, but apparently that won't happen. The Braves are hoping McCann will have a normal offseason and report to spring training in February.

Brian McCann told reporters Thursday that he is likely to require offseason shoulder surgery. McCann hit just .230/.300/.399 in 121 games for the Braves this season while battling multiple injuries. David Ross will start in his place in Friday's Wild Card game.

Brian McCann will not start Friday's Wild Card game. David Ross, a better defender with a better arm, will make the start in his place. McCann has been banged up all season and batted just .214/.274/.357 in September.

Brian McCann is out of the Braves' lineup Sunday. The Braves are giving McCann regular days off to rest his shoulder and knee. Michael Bourn (thumb) is also out of the lineup, despite manager Fredi Gonzalez saying he had a "good chance" to return.