McLouth is sent down and Ross gets a new deal!

The Atlanta Braves were quite busy leading up to its game against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. General Manager Frank Wren had to deliver some bad news as well as some good news to a pair of Braves, telling Nate McLouth he had been sent down to Gwinnett after going just 1-15 since coming off the disabled list, then informing David Ross of a contract extension.

For Nate McLouth, the demotion to Class AAA Gwinnett for the moment ends the struggling centerfielder’s tour with Atlanta. McLouth came over to the Braves in a midseason trade last season but ran into trouble during spring training and never getting untracked during the regular season. Despite being solid with the glove, McLouth has been lacking at the plate, hitting under .200 for most of the season and only going 1-15 since returning from the disabled list (concussion). Brent Clevlen will take McLouth’s spot on the roster while Melky Cabrera and Omar Infante will likely take McLouth’s spot in the lineup, unless the team makes a move.

While Brian McCann recently made his fifth straight all-star game appearance, the team has now locked up his back-up to a two-year extension. The 33-year-old backstop is hitting .269 in 35 games (21 starts), and his defense has been sparkling. Ross has thrown out 47% of potential base stealers this year, while helping handle a pitching staff that has helped Atlanta hold a 3.5 games lead in the NL East. Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team but it is believed to be worth around $3.25M according to the AJC.

In a recent interview with SBF and Score Atlanta, Ross talked about how well he was received by the organization when he signed his original two-year deal with Atlanta before the 2009 season. “I feel really comfortable here too. After last year, coming in the coaching staff and players treated me with a lot of respect and I feel really comfortable, and the result of that comfort zone was a good year last year and I’m trying to help with that and to help win.”

Ross, now in his ninth season in the majors, will stay with his sixth team for at least two more seasons, backing up Brian McCann, who is also signed through the 2012 season, with an option for 2013. “The end result, when you get to be 33 like I am and you know that you only have a couple, three or four years left is you want to win,” said Ross. “That’s what we have here is a good group of guys and a chance to win and I enjoy myself.”