Braves History: 2 Trades That Impacted Them Most, 1 That Would Have Turned The Tide

Within the next seven days, Major League Baseball will be going through changes, seeing some of the biggest names in the game uprooted and planted onto different fields. The trading block of 2023 features some of the most scintillating talent in the sport, led by the anomaly from Anaheim and a plethora of high-end pitching talents such as Lucas Giolito and Marcus Stroman to name a few. This time next week, the sport as we know it now may very well be drastically changed. 

The genesis of the trade deadline can be traced back to 1917, when the National League established a deadline of August 20th, according to Cliff Blau of the Society of American Baseball Research. Three years later, the American League introduced a deadline of its own, falling on July 1st. The following year, the two leagues would agree on a joint deadline of August 1st, moving to June 15th the year after, where it would stay put for nearly sixty years.

Later on down the road, the deadline jumped back to July 31st, 1986 according to Blau. Since then, the end of July has stood as one of the most exciting times in the eyes of baseball fans. We’ve seen teams bolster their lineups top to bottom, while other teams deconstruct almost completely to the studs, often happening within less than 24 hours. 

The feverish, chaotic nature of the free-for-all style fire sale that is the week leading up to July 31st has given us some of the most dramatic changes to teams, almost in the blink of an eye. With all the rich history tied to the trade deadline, one starts to feel a bit of nostalgia, looking back on some of the most beloved moves made, shaping the game as we know it today. Each of the thirty teams has a rich, deep history surrounding the biggest day of the summer for the sport and that includes your Atlanta Braves. 

As we press onward, head first into the proverbial eye of the storm, one can’t help but look back at some of the moves made in trade deadlines past. 

There have been far more than plenty, but when looking inward, a few stand taller than the rest. 

Honorable Mention: The biggest trade that never happened.

I’m sure by now every Braves fan has heard the tale of the fabled deal that could have been, circa 1992. While not a deal at the deadline, it’s hard to talk about notable Braves trade history without mentioning a deal that would have drastically changed the course of the franchise. 

Towards the beginning of the baseball year in 1992, around the time Spring Training was underway, former GM John Schuerholz had a trade in place to send Alejandro Pena, Kevin Mitchell, and a player to be named later for a lethal outfielder out of Pittsburgh named Barry, who would go on to become one of the most feared hitters in the history of the sport. 

Maybe you’ve heard of him? 

According to Eddie Becker of Bleacher Report, the deal was so far along that Schuerholz was actively preparing the press release announcing the trade. Every sign was pointing to the deal getting done, giving the Braves a deadly weapon in their outfield as they began their run of 14 consecutive division titles. 

There was just one problem, and he had a bit of a short fuse and a pension for smoking cigars in the clubhouse. 

Legendary baseball mind and coach of the 1992 Pittsburgh Pirates, Jim Leyland, heard about the deal heading to the dotted line and, in short, lost his mind. Grown weary by Pittsburgh’s method of salary dumping, he marched to the owner’s office and demanded the trade be killed, according to Becker. 

The deal was scrapped faster than the speed of sound, the Braves remained stagnant, and Bonds finished the year in Pittsburgh, putting up a staggering line of .311/.624/.1.080 with 33 HR, 114 RBI, and 39 SB en route to his second MVP season in three years. The following offseason, he would go home to San Fransisco, where he spent the remainder of his 15 years in the big leagues; and the rest is history. 

The thought of baseball’s “villain” roaming the outfield for the dynastic Braves is enough to almost make someone crazy; a bat that potent in the powerful Braves lineup may have potentially led them even farther in the Postseason than we saw the team go during the decade. While the notion is exciting to think about, unfortunately, it will remain just that: a dream. This begs the million-dollar question: what if? 

That deal didn’t happen. So, let’s look at a couple that did. 

Atlanta trades Donnie Elliott, Melvin Nieves, and Vincent Moore to San Diego for Fred McGriff

As the 1993 season grew older, the Braves, two division titles into their fourteen consecutive, found themselves nine games back from the thriving San Fransisco Giants, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.

Schuerholz knew the team needed a big-time bat and decided to turn to San Diego. The team was in a fierce sell mode, following an order from ownership to cut payroll, according to MLB.com’s AJ Cassvell. San Diego rid themselves of Gary Sheffield and Tony Fernandez earlier that summer and the Braves knew they could capitalize. 

On July 18th, the Braves made the deal, while managing to hold onto their most revered prospects at the time, such as Hall of Famer, Chipper Jones. According to Bowman, Moore never advanced past the Double-A level. Elliott spent the rest of his career in the minors following 31 appearances for San Diego in 1993, and Nieves thrived for two seasons before falling into obscurity. 

McGriff, however, wasted no time upon arriving in Fulton County, homering in his debut with the team. He hit his way to a .310/.612/1.004 slash line with 19 HR, 55 RBI, and a 3.2 WAR to finish the campaign. 

Legend speaks of the infamous press box fire, which was set ablaze shortly before the eventual Hall of Famer arrived in Atlanta.

The story goes that Ted Turner said he “hoped this is an omen that the Braves get hot,” according to Tim Tucker of the AJC, and he was right. The Braves went on to post a 52-18 record following the blazing of the broadcast booth, according to Bowman, eventually earning their third consecutive division title.

Crime Dog went on to spend five years in Atlanta, playing an integral part in the road to the 1995 World Series. He finished his career with 493 HR, 1,550 RBI. He also had a career slash line of .284/.509/.886 with three Silver Slugger awards and five All-Star appearances. 

Simply put, the Braves won this trade; big time. 

While we’re on the topic of impactful trades that led to a Postseason journey, it’s prudent that we mention a rag-tag group of everyday guys who turned themselves into Atlanta legends.