Braves ship Kimbrel, Upton to Padres for four players, draft pick
ATLANTA -- File this one under 'C' for curveball.
Just hours before the Braves would open the 2015 season, Atlanta traded closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. to the San Diego Padres.
In return for this substantial swap -- in which Atlanta parts with the best closer in baseball (Kimbrel -- 185 saves since 2011), but won't pay Upton's remaining contract (three years, roughly $45 million) -- the Braves have landed outfielder Cameron Maybin, outfielder Carlos Quentin, outfield prospect Jordan Paroubeck (second-round pick in 2013 draft) and Matt Wisler, a top-five prospect with the talent-rich Padres.
"It was a hard thing to do," John Hart, Braves president of baseball operations said of when he informed Kimbrel. "He was just a consummate professional. This is a guy, you want him to be your son, you want him to marry your daughter.
For good measure, the Braves have acquired the 41st pick in (presumably) the 2015 MLB Draft.
And regarding Melvin Upton, who's currently rehabbing from a foot injury during spring training, he'll be reunited -- again -- with younger brother Justin Upton, who was dealt to San Diego a few months ago.
Unloading what's left of the elder Upton's contract had its place in dealing Upton, who struggled mightily in Atlanta. Upton inked a five-year, $75.25 million contract in 2012 -- it was the largest free-agent deal in franchise history -- and proceeded to hit .198/.279/.314 in a Braves uniform with 21 home runs, 61 RBI and 324 strikeouts. He set a team record with 173 whiffs last season.
"That certainly was a consideration," Hart said of unloading Upton's contract. "Look, we had high hopes for B.J. (Melvin). He worked hard this winter. But I think It's just something that just wasn’t working here. ... I wish B.J. the very best as he goes forward. He's still a young guy. But it's just something that wasn’t working in Atlanta."
The Braves are expected to designate Quentin for assignment -- a move that Hart did not shoot down -- and would be responsible for the $8 million he is owed this season.
As for where this leaves Atlanta's bullpen, they'll likely look to winter acquisitions Jason Grilli and Jim Johnson. Both are former All-Star closers, with Grilli saving 33 games in 2013 with the Pirates, while Johnson posted back-to-back seasons of 51 ('12) and 50 ('13) as a member of the Orioles.
While both have experience, Hart admits it won't be easy replacing Kimbrel, the National League's leader in saves the past four seasons. In that span he has 48 more saves than anyone else and a 1.51 ERA.
"There's no question this puts a hole in our bullpen," Hart said.
And it adds another wrinkle in an offseason that has already seen Atlanta trade a number of popular players in Jason Heyward, Evan Gattis and Justin Upton.
"I understand completely the fans piece of it," Hart said. "I know that there's going to be a lot of unhappy fans because of this."
The Braves open the season on Monday in Miami.
