Report: MLB could announce Braves' penalties early next week

Major League Baseball may be ready to announce the Atlanta Braves' penalties following its investigation into the scandal surrounding the club's circumvention of international bonus signing rules, MLB.com's Mark Bowman reported Thursday.

The penalties, which could be announced early next week, are expected to be significant. They could range from fines to the loss of draft picks and, as a report earlier this week indicated, the possible forfeiture of prospects. According to Bowman, the only players expected to be lost from this investigation will be those who were signed on the international market; the club's recent draft choices will reportedly not be affected.

Related - Report: Braves to lose prospects for violating international market rules

The scandal forced the Braves' then-general manager John Coppolella, as well as special assistant Gordon Blakeley, to resign from their roles in early October. Alex Anthopoulos has since been hired as their executive vice-president and GM, while John Hart - Atlanta's president of baseball operations during the Coppolella era - has moved into an advisory role.

"The past few months have been the toughest in the storied history of the Atlanta Braves franchise," CEO Terry McGuirk said moments before introducing Anthopoulos as GM on Monday, according to Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Frankly, the Braves have not lived up to our standard that the fans expect of us and what we expect of ourselves.

"On behalf of the entire Braves family, I want to apologize to the fans and our partners. We have let you down, and we will work to regain your trust."