Atlanta Braves: Revisiting the trades made during the 2022 season
By Matt Melton
March
Atlanta Braves acquire 1B Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics for OF Cristian Pache, C Shea Langeliers, RHP Ryan Cusick, and RHP Joey Estes
The first major trade by the Atlanta Braves during the 2022 season came after the MLB Lockout ended on March 14 when the club acquired Olson from the Oakland Athletics. In return, the Braves sent a total of four prospects to Oakland, two of which in Pache and Langeliers were considered as Top 100 at the time.
The centerpiece of the deal, Olson has slashed a combined .235/.321/.454 across 150 games so far this season with the Braves, along with 28 HR and 91 RBI. The 28-year-old has also remained the Braves starting first baseman throughout.
As for Oakland’s side of the deal, Pache has appeared in a total of 83 games at the major league level so far this season, slashing a combined .159/.208/.226. The 23-year-old outfielder has also spent 41 games at the Triple-A level with Las Vegas where he holds a .687 OPS.
Langeliers, who many touted as the biggest return for Oakland in the deal, is currently the Athletics No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The former Braves first-round pick recently made his MLB debut with Oakland, and is currently slashing .208/.225/.377 across 29 games in the major leagues.
Cusick, another former Atlanta first-round pick, is currently rated as the Athletics No. 14 overall prospect. The right-hander has only pitched 43 innings so far this season, a majority of which came in Double-A, with Cusick holding a combined 7.12 ERA with a 46:30 K:BB.
Estes, the final name in the deal, is currently rated as Oakland’s No. 24 prospect, and has made a total of 20 starts in High-A this season. Across that span, the right-hander owns a combined 4.55 ERA with a 92:30 K:BB.