The Braves dumped a burdensome contract Thursday by trading veteran right-handed reliever Jim Johnson to the Angels on Thursday in exchange for minor league lefty Justin Kelly.
Johnson, 34, lost the closer job last summer and was owed $5 million in 2018 in the second year of a two-year, $10 million contract. He blew nine of 31 save opportunities last season and had a 5.56 ERA in 61 appearances.
Kelly, 24, was 6-4 with a 3.543 ERA in 25 games (six starts) at five levels for the Angels last season. He was a 33rd-round draft pick out of the University of Californa-Santa Barbara in 2016.
