In a crazy turn of events, the Atlanta Braves have made a massive trade for first baseman Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics.
It would appear as if the Freddie Freeman era in Atlanta has ended with multiple reports of the Atlanta Braves completing a trade with the Oakland Athletics for first baseman Matt Olson.
While we were all refreshing Twitter waiting to see where Freddie Freeman would sign, Alex Anthopoulos was once again pulling strings behind curtains and pulled off this blockbuster trade.
Oakland will receive OF Cristian Pache, C Shea Langeliers, SP Ryan Cusick and SP Joey Estes, sources tell ESPN. Massive haul for Matt Olson, the Braves’ new first baseman.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 14, 2022
What Braves Get in Matt Olson
Matt Olson will turn 28 in March and is from Lilburn, GA where he played at Parkview High School.
He’s also under control for two more years and is set to make around $12 million in 2022.
Last season he slashed .271/.371/.540 with 39 home runs and 111 RBI as an All-Star in Oakland.
Over his career he’s slashing .252/.348/.511 with a 134 OPS+.
The left-handed slugger is also one of the best defensive first basemen in all of baseball with two Gold Gloves under his belt.
#Braves Acquire INF Matt Olson: pic.twitter.com/qPL9PyVUeP
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 14, 2022
What Braves Gave up for Matt Olson
I’ve said all along that any trade for Matt Olson would have to include either Michael Harris II or Shea Langeliers.
The Braves were willing to give up Langeliers in this deal along with Cristian Pache, Ryan Cusick, and Joey Estes.
Pache looked to be in line to compete for the center field job at least to start 2022 with Ronald Acuna Jr. possibly out.
Cusick was their first-round pick from 2021 and is a high upside arm — as is Joey Estes.
This was a really big package for two years of Olson — something we’ve never seen Anthopolous be willing to do in the past.
You have to wonder now if AA will work hard to extend Olson after giving up a lot of talent in this deal.
And, of course, what’s on the mind of most Braves fans is what this means for Freddie Freeman.
The DH certainly opens the door for having both, but that seems unlikely. I’m sure AA still has more moves up his sleeve, but for now, it feels like we’ve seen Freddie Freeman in a Braves uniform for the last time.