After a solid night of tossing and turning (and griping), we can now confirm the three team trade between the Braves, Dodgers, and Marlins is official.
While the team has yet to announce via press release, here is today’s lineup card:
Braves lineup pic.twitter.com/lDeztxGcRi
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) July 30, 2015
There are a LOT of moving parts here, so let me try to break them down as simply as can be:
- Braves receive: INF Hector Olivera, LHP Paco Rodriguez, RHP Zachary Bird, and the Marlins Competitive Balance Round A (currently 35th overall) draft pick for 2016
- Dodgers receive: LHP Alex Wood, INF Jose Peraza, LHP Luis Avilan, RHP Jim Johnson, RHP Bronson Arroyo, RHP Mat Latos, 1B/OF Michael Morse
- Marlins receive: RHP Victor Araujo, RHP Jeff Bringham, and RHP Kevin Guzman
That’s hard enough to remember correctly even while looking at it.
Essentially, the Marlins shed payroll for this year and next in Latos and Morse by giving up a draft pick to a division rival and receive 3 relatively underwhelming minor league arms in this deal. It’s not like the Marlins were ever going to get much for what they gave up, so they’re the relatively unimportant part of this deal.
The main piece at play here for Atlanta is Olivera, a 30 year old Cuban defector who was pursued heavily by Atlanta in the offseason, only to take the bigger check from Los Angeles. Rodriguez is a very good left handed reliever… when he’s not dealing with elbow inflammation, which is the current case. He’s on the 60 day disabled list, and likely won’t pitch in the majors for the remainder of the year. Bird is a lower end prospect that I unfortunately have virtually no personal information or insight to.
The Braves have rid themselves of their second best starter this year, alongside their best position player prospect in Wood and Peraza. On the lower end of the deal is free agent to be Jim Johnson, alongside on again, off again lefty Luis Avlian. Thrown in at the last second was Bronson Arroyo. Did you forget about him? Remember the Braves took on Arroyo’s contract in the deal that landed them pitching prospect Touki Touissant for INF Phil Gosselin. Los Angeles will pick up most of the money remaining on Arroyo’s contract, alongside having paid Olivera’s entire signing bonus.
Next: Putting This Deal In Perspective