The Atlanta Braves have acquired Matt Carpenter and Ray Kerr in a trade with the Padres, adding depth to their bullpen and addressing the need for quality depth after last year's injuries. The Braves continue to make moves that may seem odd individually but make sense collectively, taking on Carpenter's unwanted contract to acquire Kerr's upside and control.
The Atlanta Braves acquired pitcher Ray Kerr and DH Matt Carpenter from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league outfielder Drew Campbell, along with $1.5M. Kerr is expected to join the bullpen, while Carpenter's stint with the Braves is expected to be brief due to his subpar performance in 2023 and hefty salary. In other MLB news, Max Scherzer will miss the first half of 2024 due to back surgery, the Kansas City Royals signed Michael Wacha and Hunter Renfroe, the New York Mets are interested in Justin Turner, the Oakland A's signed Trevor Gott, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Edward Olivares, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a contract with Tyler Glasnow.
The San Diego Padres have traded designated hitter Matt Carpenter, left-hander Ray Kerr, and cash considerations to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league outfielder Drew Campbell. Carpenter had a strong start to the 2022 season with the Yankees but struggled with the Padres, while Kerr has shown promise as a reliever. The Braves have a history of taking on undesirable contracts and may consider moving Carpenter in the future.