Braves trade Matt Kemp to Dodgers in five-player blockbuster

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Matt Kemp is heading back to Los Angeles and the path is officially cleared for superstar prospect Ronald Acuña after the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers completed an expensive five-player blockbuster.

Los Angeles sent veteran pitchers Brandon McCarthy and Scott Kazmir, utility option Charlie Culberson, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and cash considerations to Atlanta in exchange for Kemp. The Braves immediately designated Gonzalez, who waived his no-trade clause to complete the transaction, for assignment to allow him a chance to earn significant playing time somewhere in 2018. Atlanta’s 40-man roster is now full.

The Dodgers reportedly sent $4.5 million to balance the two salary dumps.

For Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who was hired from Los Angeles earlier this offseason, the trade checks a variety of boxes.

By trading the $36 million still owed to Kemp through 2019 and acquiring approximately $50 million in salary due to pending free agents Gonzalez, McCarthy and Kazmir, the Braves allocated funds into one-year deals, providing the front office with more flexibility next offseason. Moving the team’s everyday left fielder also opens the door for Acuña, arguably the No. 1 prospect in baseball, to start for Atlanta as a 20-year-old next season.

Adding McCarthy and, to a lesser extent, Kazmir to the rotation mix could help the Braves’ young pitching staff as well.

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