Gonzalez reportedly replacing Cox as Braves manager

ATLANTA - Bobby Cox strolled into the Atlanta Braves clubhouse around lunchtime yesterday with that familiar waddle, only this time he was wearing his new uniform: a blue golf shirt and slacks.

The duds of retirement.

"Are y'all still here?" he jokingly yelled toward the handful of players who had returned to clean out their lockers, not even 24 hours removed from a season-ending loss in the National League Division Series.

On the first day of the rest of his life, Cox still had plenty of loose ends to tie up. First up was a meeting with general manager Frank Wren, probably to start graphing out his new consulting role with the organization. At some point, he'll have to pack up his office to make room for the next guy.

As strange as it seems, someone besides ol' No. 6 will be occupying that spot next season - and all signs pointed to former Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez.

"It's still hard to believe he's not going to be the manager come spring training," Chipper Jones said of Cox.

Wren made it clear he's already got a time frame in mind to name Cox's successor. Gonzalez has seemed the most obvious choice since he was fired in June after 31/2 years as the Marlins manager, having posted a respectable record of 276-279 with one of baseball's lower-payroll teams but apparently running afoul of owner Jeffrey Loria for benching star shortstop Hanley Ramirez for a lack of hustle.

Gonzalez was a minor-league manager in the Braves organization and did an apprenticeship as Cox's third-base coach from 2003-06.

He still lives in suburban Atlanta, remained tight with Cox and frequently turned up at Turner Field after being dumped by the Marlins.

The Braves are likely to act quickly - Wren, after all, has known for more than a year that this would be Cox's final season.

Several media outlets reported that Atlanta will announce Gonzalez as its choice today, one day after Cox holds a farewell news conference. The Braves had no comment on the reports, but Gonzalez would be a popular choice in the clubhouse,

As for Cox, he will remain a part of the organization in a consulting role that is largely his to carve out.

"Quite frankly, we want him to be as involved as he wants to be," Wren said.