Earlier this week, I checked in on some players the Braves traded away at the 2023 trade deadline. Now, I want to look back at the guys who were moved in 2022; before, during, or after the season. Of course, the biggest moves came at the beginning and end of 2022, when Matt Olson and Sean Murphy were shipped to the Braves from Oakland.
The Matt Olson Trade: OF Cristian Pache, C Shea Langeliers, RHP Ryan Cusick, & RHP Joey Estes
At the time, this felt like a massive haul for the A’s. As time has gone on, it’s clear the Braves were the big winners here. Cristian Pache has moved onto the Phillies after being designated for assignment by the A’s, and he has had a career resurgence in Philly. Shea Langeliers has struggled, but catcher is a difficult position to play in the big leagues. Cusick, the Braves first-round pick in 2021, has a 4.73 ERA in AA, but is improving after a really bad start. Joey Estes is struggling in AAA, but he was just recently promoted and was only promoted because of how well he was playing in AA. If the A’s had actually developed Pache, this trade is a little more even, but right now; it’s ugly. Matt Olson leads the majors in home runs and is a huge reason why the Braves will be contending for their second World Series in three years.
LHP Sean Newcomb
Sean Newcomb was sent to the Cubs in exchange for fan favorite Jesse Chavez. I always wanted the best for Newk, but he got shelled in Chicago and was designated for assignment. He was actually pitching pretty well for the Giants in AAA this season and was traded to the A’s. He’s off to a good start with Oakland.
Key Stats: 2 G, 3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 4 K
RHP Touki Toussaint
Touki Toussaint was sent to the Angels in exchange for cash considerations. Touki never worked out in Los Angeles, but he has once again shown some flashes with the White Sox in 2023. He’s currently making a few spot starts out of the bullpen for Chicago.
Key Stats: 11 G, 59.1 innings, 2-6, 4.85 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
The Royals Draft Trade: OF Drew Waters, RHP Andrew Hoffmann, & 3B CJ Alexander
This group was sent to the Royals in exchange for the 35th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, which became RHP JR Ritchie. Waters has been pretty solid; he’s still developing as a young switch hitter. Hoffmann has hit a wall at AAA with a 5.56 ERA, but again, he’s young. CJ Alexander has unfortunately struggled with injury again, but he does have 12 home runs in AAA. The Braves needed to clear out some older prospects and get some fresh blood; and they did just that with this trade.
Terone (you may know him as Trey) Harris was sent to the Nationals in a trade that brought Ehire Adrianza back to Atlanta. Harris, who was the Braves minor league hitter of the year in 2019, is still in AA at 27 years old. However, he does have a .702 OPS and could be a fourth outfielder in the majors one day.
Key Stats: .268/.348/.376/.724, 2 HR, 14 2B, 24 RBI
LHP Will Smith
The Braves completed a contract swap with the Astros to get Jake Odorizzi, and eventually sent Odorizzi to the Astros in exchange for Kolby Allard. Will Smith was loathed by a lot of Braves fans for a while for his shaky performances as closer, but all was forgiven when he slammed the door shut multiple times during the Braves 2021 playoff run. He’s having a solid season in 2023, but he has had a brutal stretch lately with eight earned runs allowed over 4.2 innings pitched.
Key Stats: 1-5, 46.2 IP, 46 K, 4.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP
LHP Tucker Davidson
Davidson was part of the package for Raisel Iglesias, which also included Jesse Chavez. The Angels designated Davidson for assignment, and he’s currently in a bullpen role with the Royals.
Key Stats: 1-2, 41.1 IP, 6.31 ERA, 1.65 WHIP
RHP Kris Anglin
Anglin was sent to the Tigers in exchange for Robbie Grossman. Anglin was released in March of 2023 and has not pitched in 2023.
RHP Jake Odorizzi
As mentioned, Odorizzi was sent to the Rangers in exchange for Kolby Allard. Odorizzi has not pitched in 2023 after undergoing shoulder surgery, and considering the Braves have gotten a few decent spot starts from Allard, this was a highly successful salary dump.
RHP Dylan Spain
Spain was sent to the Rockies in exchange for Sam Hilliard. Spain struggled with the Braves after being drafted in the 10th round in 2021, and those struggles have continued with the Rockies in AA Hartford.
Key Stats: 23 G, 2-2, 33.1 IP, 5.67 ERA, 1.41 WHIP
The Lucas Luetge Trade: SS Caleb Durbin & RHP Indigo Diaz
Both of these guys were sent to the Yankees during the 2022 offseason for Lucas Luetge. Diaz made some noise with the Braves with his incredible 2021 season, posting a microscopic 1.20 ERA over 45 innings with 83 strikeouts. Durbin has been decent, posting a .792 OPS. Diaz just underwent Tommy John Surgery, so he will likely be out until 2024.
The Sean Murphy Trade: C Manny Piña, RHP Freddy Tarnok, RHP Royber Salinas, LHP Kyle Muller, & C William Contreras
Our penultimate trade is one of the biggest, with Sean Murphy coming to Atlanta. As with the Matt Olson trade, the A’s have not gotten inspiring results. Due to injuries, Piña only had 12 at bats with the A’s before being released. Tarnok is pitching out of the bullpen and making spot starts for Oakland with a 4.91 ERA over 14.2 innings. Royber Salinas, maybe the most talented player traded to the A’s, is in AA and boasts a 4.90 ERA over 60.2 innings. Kyle Muller might be the biggest disappointment in terms of trade return so far. He was sent to AAA after posting a 7.79 ERA and 1.96 WHIP over 52 innings. He was sent down in May, made one spot start on July 1, and hasn’t been back up to the majors since. AAA hasn’t been much kinder to Muller; he has a 7.26 ERA over 62 innings.
William Contreras, the best player traded away, wasn’t even sent to the A’s. He went to Milwaukee, where he currently boasts a .816 OPS.
Next time the Braves call the A’s, they should probably just hang up the phone.
The Joe Jiménez Trade: 3B Justyn-Henry Malloy & LHP Jake Higginbotham
Finally, the last trade of the year was a controversial one, as red-hot prospect Justyn-Henry Malloy was sent to Detroit for Joe Jiménez. Malloy has been as good as advertised with 19 home runs and a .897 OPS in AAA Toledo. Higginbotham has actually been solid too; he was just promoted to AAA after posting a 3.70 ERA over 41.1 innings with AA Erie. Jiménez has been excellent with the Braves as of late, so this one could easily be a win-win for both teams.
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Photo: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
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