Atlanta Braves: 10 best trades in recent Braves history

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MILWAUKEE, WI – JULY 05: Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on July 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

With the August waiver trade deadline nearly here, we take a look at one iteration of the 10 top Atlanta Braves trades in recent team history

The Atlanta Braves like to draft and raise kids and do it the “Braves” way. However, like and MLB team, they too have had to make trades through the years to upgrade the team’s roster. Lets take a look and see what we think are the 10 best in recent Braves history.

10. January 14th, 2015: Atlanta trades Evan Gattis and James Hoyt to the Houston Astros for Mike Foltynewicz, Rio Ruiz, and Andrew Thurman

Leading off this list is a trade many people would say has worked out for both sides. Evan Gattis has continued hitting homers over the Crawford boxes, and Houston has won a World Series with him on the roster. Meanwhile, Atlanta got it’s current “Ace” and a prospect that could still yet prove valuable in Rio Ruiz. Andrew Thurman has since been released by the Braves, and is currently out of baseball altogether.

9. April 1, 1991: Atlanta Braves trade Keith Morrison and Jimmy Kremers to the Montreal Expos for Otis Nixon and Boi Rodriguez

Atlanta got a true speedster in Otis Nixon in this deal. We have all also seen highlight of his amazing defense as well. Neither of the players the Expos received in this deal ever amounted to much in the major leagues.

8. December 19th, 2014: Atlanta trades Justin Upton and Aaron Northcraft to the San Diego Padres for Max Fried, Dustin Peterson, Jace Peterson, and Mallex Smith

Justin Upton was and still is a outstanding player, but this was the winter the Braves decided to tear it all down to the ground. Upton only had 1 year left on his deal and only stayed in San Diego for 1 year which probably makes Padres fans groan a little at the sight of this trade again. Jace Peterson has since moved on from the Braves, and so has Mallex Smith. However, Mallex Smith brought back one of our current top prospects in Luiz Gohara. Max Fried and Dustin Peterson are both still with the Braves, and both seem to be a part of the future plans.

28 Aug 1995: Batter Marquis Grissom of the Atlanta Braves connects with a pitch during a 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. /

7. January 15th, 2002: Atlanta trades Brian Jordan, Andrew Brown, and Odalis Perez to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Gary Sheffield

Yes, Gary Sheffield only lasted 2 years in Atlanta, but he mashed while he was there and provided a stellar 3-4 combo in the lineup with Chipper Jones. Brian Jordan had a solid year in LA in 2002, but missed most of the 2003 season, leaving Atlanta the clear winner of this trade.

6. December 8th, 2005: Atlanta Braves trade Andy Marte to the Boston Red Sox for Edgar Renteria

Andy Marte was once a “Can’t miss” prospect. Well…he missed. The Braves moved him at his peak value to Beantown, and the return was Edgar Renteria. Renteria ended up providing great numbers for the Braves and even made the All-Star team. His Atlanta stay didn’t last long but the Braves got something of value for Marte – a good example of maximizing a prospect’s value, something the Atlanta Braves have done often over the years in deals.

5. April 6th, 1995: Atlanta trades Tony Torasco, Esteban Yan, and Roberto Kelly to the Montreal Expos for Marquis Grissom

Atlanta got its starting center fielder and leadoff man for the World Series year at the very start of the season. None of the players Montreal received ever contributed much either. This was a financial trade for the Expos as they tore down their successful 1994 team. Marquis Grissom got to win a World Series with his hometown team as well.

4. December 17th, 2004: Atlanta trades Juan Cruz, Dan Meyer, and Charles Thomas to the Oakland A’s for Tim Hudson

Tim Hudson got to come home and pitch for his hometown team. He did a great job at it as well. “Huddy” put up great numbers throughout his Atlanta stay and continued to be among the best pitchers in the game. In what you can see is becoming a trend, none of the players traded away were big contributors for the Athletics.

MILWAUKEE, WI – JULY 9: National League All Stars Tom Glavine /

3. December 9th, 2015: Atlanta Braves trade Shelby Miller and Gabe Speier to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson, and Aaron Blair

John Coppollela’s best move during his tenure with the Braves was no doubt getting this haul for Shelby Miller. Arizona has netted almost nothing out of Miller during his stay due to injuries. Ender Inciarte has won Gold Gloves and made an All-Star team, and Dansby Swanson has been the club’s starting shortstop for 2 seasons now. Aaron Blair was injured (though he could return once healthy), but even his struggles cannot prevent this from being a tremendously one-sided deal.

2. July 18th, 1993: Atlanta trades Vince Moore, Donnie Elliot, and Melvin Nieves to the San Diego Padres for Fred McGriff

Fred McGriff raked in his time in Atlanta, and was a integral part as any during the 1995 World Series year. As for the return the Padres got in this deal – in spite of Melvin Nieves being one of the game’s top prospects at the time, he never panned out, nor did anyone else in the deal. Not all was lost for San Diego here though as Trevor Hoffman has been quoted as saying Donnie Elliot taught him how to throw a changeup. Hoffman rode that changeup all the way into Cooperstown this summer.

1. August 12th, 1987: Atlanta trades Doyle Alexander to the Detroit Tigers for John Smoltz

Was there ever really any doubt? Unlike most of these trades, Doyle Alexander actually provided an impact to his team, but they gave away one of the most dominant pitchers ever. John Smoltz was one of the best ever to pitch, especially in October. Everyone knows his numbers. He was an ultimate gamer, and I’m sure the Braves still smile when they think about their fortunes on that day.

Next. Which relievers could Braves target by end of August?. dark

Any way you cut it, it’s obvious that the Atlanta Braves enjoyed their success in the 1990s and 2000s in very large part to the trade market over free agents.

So what do you think? Are there any deals you’d put on this list that aren’t here? Would you change the order on this list? Comment below!

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Atlanta Braves: The 10 best trades in recent Braves history