Grade the Trade: Atlanta Braves trade Justin Upton to the San Diego Padres

Who won the trade between the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres which sent slugger Justin Upton to Southern California?

Not long ago, the Atlanta Braves had a stacked offense. Dollar signs scared them from continuing to build around their core, thus leading to the current rebuild they’re attempting to dig themselves out from. If there’s one specific transaction which signified the Braves were ready to head in another direction, it’s the trade that sent outfield Justin Upton to the San Diego Padres.

The Braves and Padres made several major changes to their respective rosters from 2014 to 2015. Unfortunately, the result was the same for both. The Braves were looking to unload pending free agents and big salaries. The Padres were willing to take on anyone who could help them win.

A week before Christmas 2014, the Braves traded Upton and minor leaguer Aaron Northcraft to the Padres. In return, the Braves received Jace Peterson, Mallex Smith, Max Fried, and Dustin Peterson.

Upton was the big name in this deal. He would stay in San Diego for only 2015, becoming a free agent following the season. Though he was an All-Star, his impact was a limited one.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

After several seasons of posting favorable batting averages, Upton finished 2015 hitting only .251. He still managed to drive 26 home runs, which at least helped supplement an underwhelming Padres’ offense.

In retrospect, the Padres received a very good player from the Braves without giving up a lot. This is because the three players with MLB experience that went to Atlanta never became the studs some believed they could.

Jace Peterson played regularly for the Braves in 2015 and 2016. For a brief time, it looked like he might earn a permanent starting gig. Minor leaguers such as Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies stole those at-bats away. Not to mention, Peterson’s own limitations. He hasn’t exactly been consistent over the last three years. At best, Peterson is a bench player in MLB.

Smith spent a large portion of 2016 with the Braves, though they ended up trading him this past offseason to the Tampa Bay Rays. So until the guys they received in return for the speedy outfielder make their big league debuts, he’s pretty much irrelevant in the Upton deal.

The other Peterson in this deal, Dustin Peterson, has yet to debut in the big leagues. At 22-years-old he still has time and probably should get an opportunity this September or sometime next year. Fried is in a similar position. The difference is he has already tasted his cup of big league coffee. The result hasn’t been too promising, but it’s still very early for the former seventh overall pick.

Next: Dodgers dominate power rankings

For as poorly as we remember Upton’s one year in San Diego, the Padres have thus far killed the Braves in this deal. Atlanta seemed to prefer quantity over quality. This might have something to do with the fact that they gave up several very talented players two years prior in exchange for Upton.

Although the Braves have two guys who can help earn them some bonus points in this deal, the Padres have come away the winners of this deal to this point.