Atlanta Braves trade Matt Kemp to Dodgers for 4 players
By trading away one of the corner outfielders, Alex Anthopoulos makes room for the Atlanta Braves’ top prospect come Spring 2018.
Room for the Atlanta Braves phenom, Ronald Acuna, has finally been made on the major league club. The Atlanta Braves & Los Angeles Dodgers completed a five-player trade today in which the Braves have acquired pitchers Brandon McCarthy & Scott Kazmir, INF Charlie Culberson, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez & cash considerations in exchange for OF Matt Kemp.
The #Braves & Dodgers completed a five-player trade today in which the Braves have acquired pitchers Brandon McCarthy & Scott Kazmir, INF Charlie Culberson, 1B Adrian Gonzalez & cash considerations in exchange for OF Matt Kemp. Details: pic.twitter.com/41uyrIFQ5X
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 16, 2017
Alex Anthopoulos is making some big moves just over a month into his position as the Atlanta Braves new General Manager and Head of Baseball Operations. Anthopoulos adds two veteran relievers to the team with the acquisition of Brandon McCarthy and Scott Kazmir, as well a bench piece/minor leaguer in Rome, GA native Charlie Culberson.
But wait, what about Adrian Gonzalez?
He is going to become a free agent after waiving his no-trade clause, so Gonzalez will not bear an Atlanta Braves uniform in 2018.
Adrian Gonzalez will be a free agent on Wednesday as condition for waiving his no trade clause #Braves #Dodgers
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 16, 2017
2017 stats and notes on the newly acquired Atlanta Braves:
Brandon McCarthy
3.98 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 1.252 WHIP, with 7.0 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9.
- Missed most of 2015 and 2016 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Scott Kazmir
NO STATS.
- Did not pitch in 2017 with a hip injury.
Charlie Culberson
Fluctuating between the major league club and AAA, Culberson has limited experience at the big league level.
MLB: 15 G, 13 AB, 2 H, .154/.267/.231/.497 slash line.
MiLB: 108 G, 384 AB, 96 H, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 26 BB, 68 K, .250/.299/.336/.634 slash line
- Went 8-16 in the Postseason this year with the Dodgers, including a homer in Game 2 of the World Series.
Adrian Gonzalez
71 G, 252 AB, 56 H, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 16 BB, 43 K, .242/.287/.355/.642
- Limited to 57 starts in 2017 mostly due to back and shoulder injuries.
Depending on the types of cash considerations the Dodgers are willing to give the Braves, here are the salaries of the new Atlanta Braves for 2018:
- Charlie Culberson – around $500k for 2018 (under team control for 2018)
- Brandon McCarthy – $11.5mil for 2018 (final year of contract)
- Scott Kazmir – $17.6mil for 2018 (final year of contract)
Next: Atlanta Braves and the case for better defense
UPDATE: LA is sending $4.5 million to the Braves to balance the financial part of this deal.