4 Atlanta Braves trade heists people don't talk about enough

Atlanta has made some truly great trades in their history that don't get enough recognition.

Division Series - Philadelphia Phillies v Atlanta Braves - Game Two
Division Series - Philadelphia Phillies v Atlanta Braves - Game Two | Adam Hagy/GettyImages
3 of 4

Braves fleece Dave Stewart and land Dansby Swanson

  • Date: Dec. 9, 2015
  • Trade Details: Braves acquire SS Dansby Swanson, OF Ender Inciarte, and RHP Aaron Blair and Diamondbacks receive RHP Shelby Miller and LHP Gabe Speier

This one is starting to be forgotten simply because all of the players on the Braves' end are no longer with the team. At the time, the Braves somehow trading Shelby Miller for two lineup staples and a very interesting pitching prospect was big, big news.

It all started with news that the Braves' general manager at the time, John Coppolella, had lunch with his Diamondbacks counterpart Dave Stewart. Later that evening, it was revealed that Atlanta was sending Miller, who pitched great for the Braves to his credit, to Arizona and with each successive news update, the package got better and better for the Braves.

Dansby is obviously the headliner here. It took him a couple years to get his feet under him, but Dansby established himself as one of the game's best defensive shortstops who can also hit for power and really run. The end of his time with the Braves was unfortunate, but Atlanta got a lot out of him despite that. Inciarte was a shell of his former self towards the end of his time, but before that he was a solid offensive contributor and may have been the best outfielder defender in the league for a few years there. Blair had a lot of promise before a shoulder injury effectively ended his MLB aspriations.

As for what the Braves gave up, Miller posted three subpar seasons with the Diamondbacks and has since then remade himself as a pretty decent reliever while bouncing around the league. Speier never made it to the majors with the Diamondbacks, although it does seem like he has finally found a home in the Mariners' bullpen coming off a good season in 2023.

Schedule