It’s Kemp: Atlanta Braves Found a Way to Move Olivera
The Atlanta Braves have agreed to trade Hector Olivera to the Padres for Matt Kemp in a bad contract swap.
What seemed like bizarre speculation less than 2 hours ago has blossomed into a purposeful reality. We already gave you the basics on Matt Kemp, but that’s not terribly relevant right now: this is a financial and public relations deal – much more so than a baseball deal.
Let’s follow the timelines as this deal appears to be approaching the finish line.
UPDATE: The deal is done, and has been announced.
Padres and Braves are indeed discussing Matt Kemp-Hector Olivera trade. Source says "it's possible." Olivera pulled from Gwinnett's lineup.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) July 30, 2016
Sounds like, if trade is completed, Padres would consider DFA'ing Olivera.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) July 30, 2016
There is indeed a cash component to potential Olivera-for-Kemp swap. Exact details not known.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2016
Source now says Olivera from #Braves to #Padres for Kemp has graduated to "very close"
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2016
Hector Olivera recently donated $10K to Florida Legends Foundation, which helps kids play in tournaments & showcases them for scholarships.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) July 30, 2016
Kudos to #Braves if they can dump Olivera, who has been a bust for #Dodgers before them, leaving questions whether he can ever hit in #MLB
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 30, 2016
San Diego just traded away two starting pitchers... don't be surprised if they aren't asking the #Braves for at least one replacement.
— AlanCarpenter⚾ (@carpengui) July 30, 2016
(Self serving? Perhaps… but I think a valid point: San Diego has to get something out of this deal, and salary relief may not be enough).
Now from the man who initially had this news earlier this afternoon:
The Braves and Padres close to trade that will send Matt Kemp to Braves and Hector Olivera to Padres but not... https://t.co/5zLCg5zMXt
— Jim Bowden⚾️🏈 (@JimBowdenGM) July 30, 2016
Olivera for Kemp is indeed a one-for-one. #Padres would be sending $ to #Braves. Only last-sec medical would kill deal now.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2016
While we await the financials, this is kind of funny:
One other oddity: #Dodgers are paying money on both ends of #Braves & #Padres' swap of Hector Olivera for Matt Kemp.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) July 30, 2016
He’s right: the Dodgers paid the bonus for Olivera before he became a Brave and they are still handing out $3.5 million annually to support Kemp’s contract. Now to say that the Dodgers didn’t get anything out of those deals.. but it hasn’t all been easy, either:
Matt Kemp got the Dodgers Yasmani Grandal and Zach Eflin. Hector Olivera and others got the Dodgers Joze Peraza, Alex Wood and Mat Latos.
— Devan Fink (@DevanFink) July 30, 2016
Kemp addition gives Braves flexibility to trade Markakis or Francoeur, but they don't appear to be aggressively shopping either.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) July 30, 2016
Well… PADRES, but you knew that.
On July 30, 2015, the #Braves acquired Hector Olivera in a 3-team trade. On July 30, 2016, they have dealt him to the #Padres for Matt Kemp.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) July 30, 2016
Next: It's All About the Money