ATL All Day
Fansided

Atlanta Braves Complete 3 Team Trade With Dodgers, Marlins

By Jonathan Savitske

facebooktwitterreddit

The Atlanta Braves completed a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins on Thursday, sending Pitchers Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, and Luis Avilan, along with top prospect Jose Peraza to the Dodgers for Cuban slugger Hector Olivera and the 34th pick in next year’s draft from the Marlins.

After much of the particulars of this potential deal were speculated over the course of Wednesday evening, the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Miami Marlins have finalized the details of the trade. This trade is sure to initially leave a sour taste in the mouths of Braves fans everywhere.

-= Related: A.J. Pierzynski: Possible Suitors At Trade Deadline =-

The Atlanta Braves will send one of their best young pitchers in Alex Wood along with arguably their best relievers in Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan. Also, to add insult to injury, John Hart decided to package the Atlanta Braves’ top ranked prospect in Jose Peraza to the Dodgers.

More from ATL All Day

The return the Atlanta Braves will receive from Los Angeles is somewhat underwhelming at first glance. The Dodgers will send the Braves reliever Paco Rodriguez, prospect Zachary Bird, and infielder Hector Olivera.

The Atlanta Braves pursued Olivera in the offseason, only to sign with the Dodgers to the tune of a $62 million contract. The Braves will retain the remainder of Olivera’s salary. Olivera has yet to crack the majors this year, and there are many injury concerns to go with him. At 30-years-old, Olivera is no spring chicken, but has hit a respectable .348 over the course of 19 minor league games at 3 different levels this season.

“For the time being, I feel the Braves gave the Dodgers way too much for a very small return.”

Paco Rodriguez has suffered from nagging injuries for most of the year, but at only 24-years-old, provides another young arm that John Hart so covets. Zachary Bird, the other prospect involved in the deal, is a high upside young arm at 21-years-old, but has struggled so far this year at the A level, notching a 4.75 ERA. The Braves will also receive a competitive balance pick in this deal, adding another asset to a litany of similar deals that John Hart has completed in his tenure.

The Atlanta Braves gave up one of their best young pitchers, two of their best relievers, and their top ranked prospect in this deal for a 30-year-old injury prone prospect, another relief pitcher dealing with injury, and a high-upside arm who hasn’t performed well at the lower minor league level. Not to sound like a downer but I feel as if John Hart and the Atlanta Braves’ front-office overpaid for Olivera’s service by giving the Dodgers what seems to me like a King’s ransom.

More from Atlanta Braves

So far during his tenure as President of Baseball Operations, John Hart has done a remarkable job stockpiling young talent for future success. There could be injury concerns with Alex Wood’s unorthodox delivery (he also underwent Tommy John surgery while at UGA), and perhaps the Braves front-office now feel that Peraza was expendable with the rise of Jace Peterson and Mallex Smith, allowing them to consummate this agreement.

I was disappointed after the trade of Jason Heyward for Shelby Miller; but now I believe it was a victory for the Atlanta Braves. Maybe I will feel the same way a few months from now; but for the time being, I feel the Braves gave the Dodgers way too much for a very small return.

Let us know what you think in the comments section and keep it here for more Braves updates leading up to Friday’s Trade Deadline.

Next: Atlanta Braves Face Familiar Foe in Philadelphia Phillies

More from ATL All Day

Home/Atlanta Braves