Atlanta Braves trade Olivera, acquire Kemp

The Atlanta Braves traded third baseman Hector Olivera to the San Diego Padres on Saturday. In exchange, the Braves acquired outfielder Matt Kemp, along with a reported $10.5 million.

The Atlanta Braves have found a trade that liberates them from third baseman Hector Olivera, who has been serving an 82 game suspension which ends Aug. 1. Back in April, Olivera was arrested and charged with the assault of a woman. As a result, he was suspended for 82 games for violating the MLB’s off-the-field personal conduct policy.

The Braves acquired Olivera in July 2015 through a three-team trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins. The Atlanta Braves still owed him more than $28 million through the $47 million deal he had signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, though the Dodgers had agreed to pay the deficit as part of their trade agreement.

In short, because Olivera was suspended shortly after the season began, the Braves were getting next to nothing out of him for what they were paying for him. But now, the Braves have found themselves a deal that works for them.

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Olivera will head to the Padres, and the Atlanta Braves will receive two-time former All-Star veteran outfielder Matt Kemp. The deal will become finalized after both players pass their physical exams.

VIA David O’Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

"Kemp, 31, is owed $21.5 million in each of the next three seasons through 2019, and the Dodgers are paying $3.5 million of that amount annually per terms of the trade that sent him to the Padres after the 2014 season. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the Padres would pay the Braves between $10 million and $12 million as part of the deal.That means the Braves would end up paying Kemp somewhere between $13.5 million to $15.5 million annually for three seasons.Kemp has hit .262 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs in 100 games this season, with 100 strikeouts, 16 walks and a career-worst .285 OBP and .489 slugging percentage.He isn’t even close to being the player he was when he won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards in 2009 and again in 2011 while manning center field for the Dodgers. He was the National League MVP runner-up in 2011 after batting .324 with league-leading totals of 39 homers and 126 RBIs along with a .986 OPS and 40 stolen bases.Now regarded as a below-average defensive right fielder, Kemp has has no stolen bases this season after totaling 38 over the previous four seasons. But the Braves like the fact that they’re adding right-handed power and dumping a player who had, quite honestly, been a major disappointment on the field and an embarrassment off it after the April arrest."

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That’s what it all comes down to: The Braves have found a way to rid themselves of Olivera, who had seemed like a rather “untradeable” player considering the circumstances. Though Kemp may not be the best outfielder, and will cost the Braves about $8.5 million more than Olivera, they ultimately had to weigh the pros and cons.

Kemp does bring more right-handed power to the Atlanta Braves and is a much better option than keeping troubled Olivera around. The Braves were fortunate to find a team that fit the trade. According to David O’Brien of the AJC, “From the Padres’ perspective, trading Kemp would open a roster spot for one of their outfield prospects. One report out of San Diego said the Padres might even designate Olivera for assignment rather than give him a roster spot.”