Braves trade Kimbrell and Upton to S.D.

[Bluehorseshoe]

I've never seen more moves in my life by one team.

[Bluehorseshoe]

Braves trade Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton, Jr. to the Padres

Bill Baer

Apr 5, 2015, 6:19 PM EDT
14 Comments
Craig Kimbrel Craig Kimbrel

Happy Opening Day, everyone. To celebrate, the Padres have made another gigantic trade. Kiley McDaniels of FanGraphs was the first to report that the Braves have traded closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton, Jr. to the Padres in exchange for pitching prospect Matt Wisler, minor league outfielder Jordan Paroubeck (link), outfielders Cameron Maybin and Carlos Quentin, and the 41st overall pick (per ESPN’s Keith Law).

The Padres were the only team yet to submit a 25-man roster and this is why. They had a glut of outfielders and cleared it up with this trade to the Braves. The Padres also reunite the Upton brothers.

Kimbrel had signed a four-year, $42 million extension last February but the Braves are going deeper into a rebuilding mode. Given the fickle nature of relievers, Kimbrel’s price tag, and the Braves’ unlikelihood of being competitive for a little while, it does make sense for them to deal the fireballer. Since debuting in 2010, Kimbrel has a career 1.43 ERA with 186 saves and a 476/108 K/BB ratio in 289 innings.

Upton had $46.35 million and three years remaining on a five-year, $75.25 million deal signed with the Braves in November 2012. In two seasons with the Braves, the 30-year-old ranked among baseball’s least productive players with a .593 OPS and -1.6 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball Reference.

Both Maybin (28) and Quentin (32) had been pushed out of the picture as the Padres completely revamped their outfield with the off-season trades to acquire Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, and Wil Myers. Maybin has $16 million over two years remaining on his contract. Quentin has $8 million remaining just for the 2015 season before becoming eligible for free agency.

Wisler, 22, reached Triple-A for the first time last season, finishing with a 5.01 ERA and a 101/36 K/BB ratio over 116 2/3 innings in El Paso. MLB.com rated him the organization’s top pitching prospect, fourth overall in the system, and 70th among baseball’s top 100 prospects.

Paroubeck, 20, played his first professional season last year after being taken by the Padres in the second round of the 2013 draft. In 157 plate appearances, the outfielder batted .286/.346/.457.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/05/braves-trade-craig-kimbrel-and-melvin-upton-jr-to-the-padres/

[Big Bear]

WOW!

LT is profits is going to be pissed you stole his Thunder but this is huge news.


Padres just became a legit force to be reckoned with.

[Big Bear]

Kimbrel is a beast.

Padres just took Upton off the Braves hands as a favor.

he ain't going to see the field much but Kimbrell really solidifies that bullpen.

[TwoWays]

Yup, sd needs have always been on the pitching side

[Ghenghis Kahn]

not sure why sd is wasting time. they're aren't winning the division.

[El Nino]

SD going for broke.

[TwoWays]

Will venable still batting cleanup for the pads...protected by Alex amarista in the 3rd spot?

[Fidel_CashFlow]

literally all or nothing for Padres, cant knock emm for trying
this is not a bad move for Padres, best closer in the game
and Padres are still almost 4 deep in the outfield AFTER this trade
so they could afford to lose(for the moment) what players they did

[Bluehorseshoe]

literally all or nothing for Padres, cant knock emm for trying
this is not a bad move for Padres, best closer in the game
and Padres are still almost 4 deep in the outfield AFTER this trade
so they could afford to lose(for the moment) what players they did

I don't know. Taking on that Upton contract is nuts.

[Mr KLC]

Who will be closing for the Braves now?

[Big Bear]

Who will be closing for the Braves now?

former Pirates closer Jason Grilli

[Mr KLC]

If you can still take the under on the Braves win total, I'd hit it now. They are officially in Astros wrecking ball mode.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

I don't know. Taking on that Upton contract is nuts.

upton, quentin and maybin are all bad contracts...quentin and maybin were not going to start anyhow

i don't like giving up Wisler but got an elite closer...still deciding if I like the trade or not but it improves SD in the short term.

[rm18]

Are Padres the best team of all time this is ridiculous?

[Mr KLC]

Are Padres the best team of all time this is ridiculous?

Still think they are a wild card team, at best. This is going to be hellascary if this doesn't work out.

[Bluehorseshoe]

upton, quentin and maybin are all bad contracts...quentin and maybin were not going to start anyhow

i don't like giving up Wisler but got an elite closer...still deciding if I like the trade or not but it improves SD in the short term.

But those contracts are off the books in two years and you just took on an extra 24 mill for a guy who is deader than dead. That park isn't going to help either. I could see Quentin producing at least.

[seaborneq]

Wow. Braves have completely given up. Will be the worse team in the National League with Phillies.

[itchypickle]

Holy god almighty when will it end with these guys in front office? Every fukking year they give away any solid parts of the line up. I'm with KLC...this experiment is 'Stros like and I'm officially leaving my Braves for a few years....can't take it anymore.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

But those contracts are off the books in two years and you just took on an extra 24 mill for a guy who is deader than dead. That park isn't going to help either. I could see Quentin producing at least.

I agree I do not like having to take Upton but maybe the extra roster spot and BJ Upton's defense/speed makes it worth it for now..getting kimbrel was big though now we can put benoit as a setup guy where he is elite.

[daneblazer]

Good trade for the braves. Those two contracts were awful

[rm18]

They have a lot of pitching I think although there are not many consistent performers in todays game.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

But those contracts are off the books in two years and you just took on an extra 24 mill for a guy who is deader than dead. That park isn't going to help either. I could see Quentin producing at least.

Upton's in the 3rd year of a 5 year contract and it is still not known if Atlanta is paying a portion of his contract..either way, he might be the highest paid 4th outfielder/defensive replacement in history.

[Ra77er]

I give up on the avatar....this is ridiculous.

[Jeffie]

I didn't even know Quentin played anymore.

[daneblazer]

I give up on the avatar....this is ridiculous.

Change it to Fredi Gonzalez, maybe they'll trade him next week

[Ra77er]

[daneblazer]

@Buster_ESPN
Heard from several execs about SD-ATL: Each loves it for ATL. Said one: "I don't think for the money they took on, [SD] improved that much."

[Vegas39]

I give up on the avatar....this is ridiculous.

[Mr KLC]

Braves are getting everything set up for their new stadium opening in 2017. Got some more fresh prospects. Got money freed up to spend on free agents that year. Could be good times coming for the Braves in a couple of years.

[itchypickle]

Braves are getting everything set up for their new stadium opening in 2017. Got some more fresh prospects. Got money freed up to spend on free agents that year. Could be good times coming for the Braves in a couple of years.

Wishful thinking. They never let a core or chemistry in a team develop. TONS of talent over the past 7 years or so and we give it all away on stupid 'all or nothing' players like Heyward, the Uptons, Uggla and on and on. Freeman in the lineup and Wood on the mound is about as good as we have this season. I've been big on Wood since seeing him pitch down in the Mississippi Braves...he was there with Gattis and others...just like after developing McCann etc they ship them off.

[Mr KLC]

Kimbrel picked up by an unknown team on waivers. Padres saying they won't trade him. Probably won't anyway, because they were asking for unrealistic stuff at the regular trade deadline. Wanted Goldschmidt from Arizona. LOL! Preller is such a joke.