Atlanta Braves trade Shelby Miller to Arizona Diamondbacks
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Braves have reportedly moved starting pitcher Shelby Miller to the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2015 No. 1 pick and Marietta native Dansby Swanson.
The Atlanta Braves have traded Shelby Miller to the Arizona Diamondbacks, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Sources: #DBacks agree to acquire Shelby Miller from #Braves, pending a review of medical records.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2015
While the Atlanta Braves did not receive coveted All-Star centerfielder A.J. Pollock from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Shelby Miller trade, what the Braves received in return was perhaps more impressive. Rosenthal reports that the Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielder Ender Inciarte, right-handed pitcher Aaron Blair, and most notably last year’s No. 1 overall selection in shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Stunning return for #Braves - Inciarte, pitching prospect Blair and Swanson, No. 1 overall pick in ‘15 draft - and potential long-term SS.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2015
Swanson played collegiately at Vanderbilt and is a native of Marietta, GA, playing at Marietta High School. He was a member of Vanderbilt’s 2014 College World Series Championship team and was a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award in 2015.
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Getting Swanson means that the Atlanta Braves have now acquired the Arizona Diamondbacks’ last two first round picks in Touki Toussaint and now Dansby Swanson. Arizona apparently wanted to speed up into win-now mode, front-loading their rotation around Zack Greinke, Patrick Corbin, and now Shelby Miller.
It seems as though the Atlanta Braves have a potential long-term starter at shortstop in Dansby Swanson, as the best farm system in baseball just got even better with his acquisition. Moving Shelby Miller to the Arizona Diamondbacks today seemed inevitable as discussions between the Snakes and the Atlanta Braves continued to mount during the Winter Meetings in Opryland, Nashville, Tennessee.
Atlanta does satisfy their need in getting a Major League outfielder in Ender Inciarte, as the Braves traded away starting centerfielder Cameron Maybin to the Detroit Tigers earlier this offseason. Aaron Blair is an intriguing pitching prospect who spent most of last year with the Diamondbacks’ AAA affiliate in the Reno Aces. However, the real prize in this deal was acquiring number one overall pick Dansby Swanson.
In other news that Atlanta Braves have signed free agent catcher Tyler Flowers this evening, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.
Per a source, the #Braves have agreed with Tyler Flowers. He'll get $2M in 2016, $3M in 2017 and he has a $4M ($300K buyout) option for 2018
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) December 9, 2015
Flowers will backup A.J. Pierzynski like they did together as former teammates with Chicago White Sox. This likely means the end of the Christian Bethancourt era in Atlanta, so expect Braves GM John Coppolella to move the once promising catching prospect sooner than later.
Next: Jose Ramirez: Looking at Braves' new acquisition
The Atlanta Braves are fully committed to the rebuild and that’s why they traded Shelby Miller to the Arizona Diamondbacks. With a solid former collegiate star like Dansby Swanson, a promising right-hander in Aaron Blair, and a Major League outfielder in Ender Inciarte, I’d say that the Atlanta Braves got out of a pitcher that only win them six games in his only season in Atlanta uniform.