Braves trade Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr. to Padres

To cap off a crazy offseason for the team, the San Diego Padres acquired closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. in a trade with the Atlanta Braves. In return, the Friars will send outfielders Cameron Maybin and Carlos Quentin, top pitching prospect Matt Wisler, outfield prospect Jordan Pouerbeck, and the 41st overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft to Atlanta. Both teams will be taking on the entire contracts of the players involved.

Kimbrel, often regarded as one of the best closers in baseball, had a stellar season in 2014, posting a 1.61 ERA with a 13.86 K/9 rate. Melvin Upton Jr.—erstwhile B.J. Upton—on the other hand, struggled in his tenure with the Braves. After signing a five-year, $75 million deal before the 2013 season, Upton failed to live up to expectations. In 2014, the 30-year-old posted a measly 74 wRC+ in 141 games.

After retooling their outfield in the offseason, the Padres had no room for Quentin and Maybin. Both players failed to produce in injury-plagued stints in San Diego. Quentin's contract contains a mutual option for 2016, while Maybin is under contract through 2017, with a club option for 2018.

Wisler, Pouerbeck, and the competitive-balance pick round out what was an offseason in which the Braves unloaded most of their major league players for young talent. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Padres revamped their entire team and jumped into playoff-contender status by trading for Justin Upton, dealing for Matt Kemp, acquiring Wil Myers, and signing free agent James Shields.