Atlanta Braves: The 10 best trades in recent Braves history
By James Kunkle
With the August waiver trade deadline nearly here, we take a look at one iteration of the 10 top Atlanta Braves trades in recent team history
The Atlanta Braves like to draft and raise kids and do it the “Braves” way. However, like and MLB team, they too have had to make trades through the years to upgrade the team’s roster. Lets take a look and see what we think are the 10 best in recent Braves history.
10. January 14th, 2015: Atlanta trades Evan Gattis and James Hoyt to the Houston Astros for Mike Foltynewicz, Rio Ruiz, and Andrew Thurman
Leading off this list is a trade many people would say has worked out for both sides. Evan Gattis has continued hitting homers over the Crawford boxes, and Houston has won a World Series with him on the roster. Meanwhile, Atlanta got it’s current “Ace” and a prospect that could still yet prove valuable in Rio Ruiz. Andrew Thurman has since been released by the Braves, and is currently out of baseball altogether.
9. April 1, 1991: Atlanta Braves trade Keith Morrison and Jimmy Kremers to the Montreal Expos for Otis Nixon and Boi Rodriguez
Atlanta got a true speedster in Otis Nixon in this deal. We have all also seen highlight of his amazing defense as well. Neither of the players the Expos received in this deal ever amounted to much in the major leagues.
8. December 19th, 2014: Atlanta trades Justin Upton and Aaron Northcraft to the San Diego Padres for Max Fried, Dustin Peterson, Jace Peterson, and Mallex Smith
Justin Upton was and still is a outstanding player, but this was the winter the Braves decided to tear it all down to the ground. Upton only had 1 year left on his deal and only stayed in San Diego for 1 year which probably makes Padres fans groan a little at the sight of this trade again. Jace Peterson has since moved on from the Braves, and so has Mallex Smith. However, Mallex Smith brought back one of our current top prospects in Luiz Gohara. Max Fried and Dustin Peterson are both still with the Braves, and both seem to be a part of the future plans.