The Braves have traded slugging outfielder Justin Upton to the San Diego Padres.
In return for Upton and minor-league pitcher Aaron Northcraft, the Braves received four young players, led by left-handed pitching prospect Max Fried. Recently ranked the Padres’ No. 3 prospect, Fried likely will miss all of next season after undergoing elbow surgery in August.
Also coming to the Braves: second baseman-third baseman Jace Peterson, the only Padre in the deal who has played in the majors; third baseman Dustin Peterson; and speedy outfielder Mallex Smith.
The Padres already made two huge trades in recent days to get outfielders, acquiring slugger Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers and former AL Rookie of the Year Wil Myers from Tampa Bay.
Now, San Diego has picked up one of baseball's top right-handed power threats in Upton, who will earn $14.5 million in the final year of his contract. He had 29 homers and 102 RBIs last season
In contrast to San Diego's win-now approach, the Braves are in rebuilding mode after failing to make the playoffs last season and are aiming toward the opening of their new suburban stadium in 2017. New general manager John Hart has dealt two of the top hitters from a lineup that already had trouble scoring runs, trading Jason Heyward to the Cardinals.
“We appreciate everything Justin Upton did for us in his two seasons in Atlanta,” Hart said in a statement Friday. “With this trade, we were able to get back four quality players. … This move will help build our organization for the long term.”
Upton and Heyward are heading into the final year of their contracts, and the Braves were not willing to risk losing them while getting nothing in return.
The deal breaks up the Upton brothers, whose two years together in Atlanta did not live up to expectations.
With much fanfare, the Braves signed B.J. Upton to a $75.25 million, five-year deal before the 2013 season and landed his younger brother in a blockbuster deal with Arizona. While Justin had two solid seasons, hitting 27 homers with 70 RBIs in his Braves debut, B.J. has been one of the biggest free-agent busts in baseball history.
This past season, the older Upton hit just .208 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs, though that was actually an improvement on his 2013 performance — .184, nine homers and 26 RBIs.
Atlanta would undoubtedly love to cut ties with B.J. Upton, as well, but it's unlikely that anyone would be willing to take on the final three years of his contract, even with the Braves assuming a substantial portion of the estimated $45 million he is still owed.
