Atlanta Braves Trade Rumor: Blockbuster Pending

Braves pitcher

(40) is removed from the game by manager

(33) in the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Disclaimer:  This is a fluid situation; nothing has been announced; nothing is official… and that likely will not change until the morning.  Medicals have to be exchanged; players notified… and the bigger the stakes, the more complicated it gets.  Therefore, we report this with caution (I’ve personally been shamed once already tonight for bad info).

In fact, Fredi Gonzalez claims to know nothing:

The sources have indeed been flying – fake ones and real ones, regrettably – but here’s how things seem to be shaking out.  This information from Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers’ beat reporter working for MLB.com:

"If the trade is completed, the Dodgers will reportedly receive [Mat] Latos and [Michael] Morse as well as Atlanta starting pitcher Alex Wood, closer Jim Johnson, reliever Luis Avilan and infielder Jose Peraza, while sending to Atlanta recent Cuban signing Hector Olivera, injured reliever Paco Rodriguez and Minor League pitcher Zach Bird, according to Major League sources. Atlanta also will receive a competitive-balance Draft pick from Miami, which would get three Minor League pitchers from Los Angeles. The clubs have not confirmed the deal."

This is enormous – certainly the biggest trade the Braves have been involved in since… well, the Craig Kimbrel deal just less than four months ago.

Early in the day, this was a fairly straightforward deal between the Dodgers and Marlins… then we heard a third team might be involved.

Little did we know that the “third” team might now be construed as the Marlins now with the Braves becoming one of the principals!

What We Give Up

A front-line major league starting pitcher, two major league relievers, and the Braves consensus #1 prospect.

Yes – that’s a lot… probably the largest “give” I can ever recall being sent out on any single trade.  For any team, any trade (though the new Cole Hamels deal is pretty darn close).  I can’t really overstate that point.

What We Receive

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Zachary Bird.  He is a 21 year old RHP in High-A ball.  But frankly, none of you are going to care about him.

Paco Rodriguez. Lefty reliever; 24 years old.  Looks like a good replacement for Avilan.  But again, you won’t care.

There is conflicting information (between Gurnick and Ken Rosenthal) on where Michael Morse ends up.

A Draft Pick (from the Marlins).  Their 2016 competitive balance pick, currently in the mid-30’s overall, and technically a first round selection.

Hector Olivera.  I’m not going to go over a lot of the details about this player… if you were with us back in March, we discussed Olivera and the Atlanta Braves’ pursuit of him in great detail.  Other than Yoan Moncada, he was the off-season Cuban prize, and was hitting like it in AAA before a hamstring injury.  If you didn’t believe the Braves were entirely serious about their pursuit of him in March, then I guess we’re all believers now.

Let me cut to the chase:

• Olivera signed a $62.5 million deal for 6 years… for 2015 through his age 36 season.
• The Dodgers paid $28 million of this up front as a signing bonus, so he is still owed $38.5 more – roughly $6.5 million per year from now through the end of the deal.
• The Braves will have their third baseman of the future for less than they offered him back in March.  And obviously way below market value for a premium player.
• The difference, of course, is that Atlanta pays that $28 million with players… and obviously some very good ones.
• The funny part is that the Dodgers went into the International penalty box for 2 years, partly because they wanted Olivera.  They paid dearly for him.  Now the Braves might have him… and are still free to spend next season internationally.

Many Implications

8 Points, 9 Seconds

I’ll hit the highlights for now:

The Braves were facing a quandry:  what to do with Jose Peraza.  With Jace Peterson‘s play, he was making it difficult to find a place for Peraza.  This appears to resolve that conflict.

Atlanta had also recently cleared Juan Uribe, but still has Chris Johnson.  If Olivera becomes a Braves, he would undoubtedly move to third base and Chris Johnson either goes to the bench or the street.

The Braves may be setting themselves up for a legitimate competitive run in 2016… and for a while thereafter.  While this is shaping up to be a costly trade, it is also exciting.

We will continue to report more on this IF and when it comes to fruition.

Wow… wow… wow.

Next: The Mystery Team... is Atlanta!