Atlanta Braves: GM Frank Wren's moves

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves: GM Frank Wren's moves

A look at Atlanta Braves moves during Frank Wren' seven-year tenure as general manager.

Braves promoted Frank Wren, a longtime assistant to John Schuerholz, to general manager in October 2007. During his leadership, the Braves have been active members in trades and free agency, while only making the postseason just three times - never getting past the opening round. Here are some of Wren's memorable moves.

The Braves signed pitcher Derek Lowe to a four-year, $60 million deal. Lowe helped the Braves secure a playoff berth as the 2010 NL Wild Card. The following season, the Braves traded Lowe to the Cleveland Indians for minor league left-handed relief pitcher Chris Jones. The Braves paid $10 million of Lowe's $15 million salary for the 2012 season.

In the offseason, after John Schuerholz sent Jarrod Saltamacchia and four other prospects to the Texas Rangers for prized first baseman Mark Teixeira, Wren signed Teixeira to a one-year, $12.5 million deal. In July, the Braves traded Teixeira for first baseman Casey Kotchman of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Braves pitching legend John Smoltz signed with Boston prior to the 2009 season and Frank Wren was criticized for letting the longtime Atlanta icon leave. Smoltz pitched in 15 games for the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals, compiling a 3-8 record with a 6.35 ERA. He would retire the following year.

Starter Javier Vazquez was traded to Atlanta from the Chicago White Sox in December 2008. As a Brave, he went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts over 35 starts. Vazquez was dealt the following offseason to New York in the Cabrera trade.

The Braves won the sweepstakes for Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami, who agreed to a three-year, $23 million deal in January 2009. In 2010, Kawakami suffered nine straight losses with a 5.15 ERA and was demoted him to the minors. Kawakami eventually joined the Chunichi Dragons in Japan following his disappointment years in Major League Baseball.

Garret Anderson signed with the Braves, coming from the Angels to provide outfield help and a left-handed bat. With Atlanta he hit .268 with 13 HR and 61 RBI in 135 games. Anderson made the roster for the Los Angeles Dodgers the following season and retired soon thereafter.

At the July 31 deadline, Atlanta Braves GM Frank Wren traded with Boston to get former Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche (left) back. Over 57 games in Atlanta, LaRoche hit .325 with 12 HRs and 40 RBI.

After being traded to the Braves in 2008 from the Angels for Mark Teixeira, first baseman Casey Kotchman (right) again found himself traded at the July 31 deadline -- this time to Boston for former Atlanta 1B Adam LaRoche.

Like John Smoltz, Braves legend Tom Glavine was working in rehab, trying to pitch his way back to the majors when he was released June 3. Wren, again, was criticized for the move but Glavine did not sign with another MLB team. Glavine was one of three Braves inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 2014.

One-time Braves star prospect (and hometown hero) Jeff Francoeur found himself wearing the rival Mets blue and orange after a July 10 trade.

Former Mets OF Ryan Church came to Atlanta in a straight trade for Jeff Francoeur. Church has a career .272 average, with 50 HR and 228 RBI.

With a week left in the year, Braves GM Frank Wren pulled the trigger on a five-player trade that brings Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera to Atlanta. Cabrera hit .274, with 13 HRs and 68 RBI last year for the Bronx Bombers. Here's a look at some of Wren's other deals.

Atlanta acquired outfielder Nate McLouth from Pittsburgh June 4. In 84 games with the Braves, he hit .256 with 20 HR, 70 RBI and 19 SB.

Six months after Kelly Johnson lost his starting job with the Braves, he was cut loose and made a free agent when the team did not tender a contract to the arbitration-eligible second baseman in December 2009. Over 106 games, Johnson hit .224 with eight HRs and 29 RBI. Johnson, currently with the Baltimore Orioles, went on to play for Arizona, Toronto, Tampa, N.Y. Yankees and Boston.

Following the 2010 season, the Braves acquired second baseman Dan Uggla for infielder Omar Infante, and reliever Michael Dunn. Uggla and the Braves agreed to a 5-year, $62 million contract in January 2011. The Braves released the infielder after four lacklaster years behind the plate in which he hit .209 and struck out 535 strikeouts. The Braves will continue to pay Uggla $19 million through the 2015 season.

Prior to the July trade deadline, the Braves sent Jordan Schafer, Brett Oberholtzer, Paul Clemens and Juan Abreu to Houston for speedy outfielder Michael Bourn. Bourn finished 2011 with a career best .294 batting average and 61 stolen bases. The following season he stole 42 bases and hit a career high nine home runs. Bourn opted for free agency over a $13.3 million-a-year offer from Braves.

Tommy Hanson joined the Braves from AAA Gwinnett as a starter June 7, 2009, and went 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA over 21 starts. Hanson was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in exchange for Jordan Walden in November 2012.

The Braves signed free agent outfielder B.J. Upton one of the biggest contracts in franchise history ($75.25 million over 5 years). In his first season with Atlanta, Upton batted just .184 with 26 RBI in 126 games.

The Braves complete a trade to acquire outfielder Justin Upton from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Martin Prado, Randall Delgado and three prospects. The trade untied Upton with his brother B.J. Upton who had signed with Atlanta earlier in the offseason. Upton has lead the Braves in home runs the past two seasons.

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Braves promoted Frank Wren, a longtime assistant to John Schuerholz, to general manager in October 2007. During his leadership, the Braves have been active members in trades and free agency, while only making the postseason just three times - never getting past the opening round. Here are some of Wren's memorable moves.

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