Atlanta Braves Top 5 worst trades of all-time (deadline or otherwise)
By Josh Mathews
Overall, the Atlanta Braves have been a largely boring team when it comes to trades, especially at the looming trade deadline.
Many fans are hoping the Atlanta Braves front office will change that and reel in the pieces we need to contend with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, trading is a delicate balance. The market is competitive — supply and low and demand is high.
Unless you didn’t sleep through those economics classes, you already know what that means — the prices are sky high.
Trade strategies have been discussed already, a few rumors have surfaced surrounding Zach Wheeler, Madison Bumgarner, and others, and the fun is only just beginning.
Forthcoming are the worst five trades or mistakes the Atlanta Braves have made, and in most cases, would readily take back.
They range back almost 50 years, now, in some cases. Because, you know, hindsight is 20-20, no matter how long ago the mistake may have been.
5. November 17, 1975
The Atlanta Braves traded Dusty Baker and Ed Goodson to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Received Lee Lacy, Tom Paciorek, Jerry Royster, and Jim Wynn.
What we got:
When we acquired Lee Lacy, he was essentially a career fourth outfielder that actually got much more playing time towards the second half of his career, starting most games he played in from 1984-1987.
He had some pop, some speed and was a decent bench piece in the 50 total games he played for the Atlanta Braves hitting .272 with three homers.
Lacy was swapped to the Dodgers during the 1976 season. He would go on to hit .303 with 20 home runs and 114 RBI and 92 stolen bases with Pittsburgh in 1982, 1983, and 1984. Lacy was a member of the famed 1979 ‘We are Family’ Pirates team, and has a World Series ring.
Outfielder Tom Paciorek had been a player that had bounced up and down to the minor leagues, but never really had earned a full-time shot.
During the 1976 season, he hit .290 over 324 at-bats with 10 doubles. That was about it, as he was released in 1978.
Paciorek went on to have some solid years with the Seattle Mariners. During his age 34 season in 1981, he was an All-Star hitting .326 with 15 home runs and 66 runs batted in.
Jerry Royster, of the four players acquired, would be the only athlete to remain a member of the Atlanta Braves for more than two seasons.
Royster would start for us from 1976-1979 and then became a utility piece until 1984. He was a plus defender and stole 174 bases over his career with the Atlanta Braves.
A light hitter, he had a .249 career batting average and that was business as usual for him during his tenure. Only 17 of his 291 career home runs came for the Atlanta Braves in the 1976 season.
But, Jim Wynn put up one of the more interesting and unique stat lines. Wynn hit .207 on the year, but had a .377 OBP. That’s right, he led the league with 127 walks.
Wynn’s entire career was smashing the ball, striking out, or walking. Unfortunately, we had him for one year at the tail end of what was a good career.
What we gave up:
A corner outfielder and pinch hitter, Goodson had his best season in 1973 with the Giants. For the Atlanta Braves, he was a throw-in on a deal where they needed no throw-in.
He appeared in 47 games for the 1975 team and hit .211. That’s about it.
Dusty Baker, on the other hand, was one of the best hitters the Atlanta Braves had and finished his career with 242 home runs and two All-Star appearances in 1980 and 1981. Those All-Star appearances, of course, did not come with Atlanta.
Over his career, he was good for an average close to .280, about 20 home runs, 80 RBI, and a dozen steals. One can assume he likely would have been a firm veteran leader as he went on to manage 22 seasons, winning 1,863 games.
While his postseason record wasn’t sparkling, Dusty still had an excellent career, if it’s done.
Analysis:
The Atlanta Braves traded Dusty Baker, a consistent offensive threat and a leader for what amounted to one season of an aging slugger and a defense-first infielder that was a reserve for 2/3 of his Braves tenure.