The Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres have agreed on a deal that sends slugger Matt Kemp and cash to Atlanta for Cuban outfielder Hector Olivera, pending physicals.
Braves Trade for Matt Kemp, Send Hector Olivera to Padres
Kemp, 31, is owed $64.5 million on his deal through 2019, with $10.5 million coming from the Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded Kemp to San Diego during the 2014 Winter Meetings. Olivera, 31, has $28.5 million left on his deal through 2020.
Kemp has a slash line of .262/.285/.489 and has clubbed 23 homers, 24 doubles and 69 RBI. His poor defense, however, and troubles getting on base have resulted in him being no more than an average major-league player, getting paid $21.5 million per season. Olivera has not produced anything significant at the major-league level, amassing only 108 total plate appearances, resulting in a below-average .245/.296/.378 slash line. He is most well known around baseball for receiving the longest suspension in MLB history for domestic violence after he was arrested and charged with the assault of a women at a Washington D.C.-area hotel a week into the season.
This actions of this deal are focused more on the need of the teams to get rid of the players they had than receiving the players they get. The Padres have been wanting to move Kemp for a long time and will more than likely designate Olivera for assignment. This frees up room for their bevy of marquee outfield prospects, such as Hunter Renfroe and Manuel Margot, to start producing at the major league level. Atlanta, it seems, had decided ever since Olivera’s suspension was finalized that he wasn’t going to play in a Braves uniform again, and being able to deal him, and add perennial power bat for the worst offense in baseball, was a deal they couldn’t pass up, even if they have to take on some cash.
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