If it was not clear before today the Atlanta Braves are throwing in the towel on the 2015 season.
It is over before it began. After weeks of trying to get something for outfielder Justin Upton the team sent him to the Padres for three players with relatively low ceilings. Don’t believe me? Read what FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal said on twitter.
Source with knowledge of #Padres' system: Fried "good get" if he recovers well from TJ. J. Peterson utility type. Smith speedy leadoff type.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 19, 2014
To sum it up all pretty: The Braves traded Justin Upton to the Padres for Max Fried, Jace Peterson, Dustin Peterson and Mallex Smith. Upton is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2015 season.
After non-tendering Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, the Braves began the offseason by trading Jayson Heyward to the Cardinals for a pretty good pitcher in Shelby Miller. Since then it has been a series of questionable moves.
None more puzzling than the Braves decision to give Nick Markakis a four-year deal worth $44 million. The Braves added Alberto Callaspo to play second base while having to trade away a pretty good reliever in Anthony Varvaro to the Red Sox.
Friday’s decision to trade away Justin Upton was not a surprise, the bigger surprise is that the Braves have simply given up on 2015 before it begins.
