The Top 16 franchise-making trades in Atlanta Braves history
By Fred Owens
10. The Lefty
1996 – DENNY NEAGLE / PITTSBURGH PIRATES
After defeating the Braves 3-2 on August 27, Denny Neagle had a 14-6 record and 3.05 ERA in 27 starts over 182.2 IP. Seeing him handle Atlanta – combined with that record – John Schuerholz made a stunning move.
". . . the winningest left-hander in the National League . . . another stunning mid-season acquisition for the Braves, who already have an 11-game lead in the National League Eastern Division . . (ahead of) the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies — all of whom need pitching more than Atlanta"
The cost for the Braves in the deal was pitching prospect Jason Schmidt, first baseman Ron Wright and outfielder Corey Pointer.
Neagle threw a scoreless inning in relief of Greg Maddux in Game 2 of the NLCS and started Game 4: tossing 6.2 innings and allowing two runs on two hits. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning in Game 1 of the World Series and threw five innings while allowing three runs – two earned – on five hits in game four.
In 1997, Neagle made 34 starts and posted a 20-5 record, throwing 233.3 innings with a 2.97 ERA (140 ERA+), received an All-Star nod and finished third in Cy Young voting. The following year, he made 32 starts and finished 16-11 with a 3.55 ERA (117 ERA+).
Neagle provided 6.8 rWAR – 8.5 fWAR to the Braves and helped them to the postseason in 1997 and 1998.
Jason Schmidt gave the Pittsburgh Pirates nothing of note, Corey Pointer never progressed above Double-A and Wright had three at-bats with no result for the Seattle Mariners in 2002.
Following the 1998 MLB season, the Atlanta Braves traded Neagle to the Cincinnati Reds for Bret Boone and Mike Remlinger.
Next: On Sept. 30, 1946, the Boston Braves traded future National Baseball Hall of Famer Billy Herman and three warm bodies to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Hank Camelli and Bob Elliott. In 1948, Elliot led them to the World Series.