On an early morning last July, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins were said to have agreed on a trade that would send Mat Latos, Michael Morse and the Marlins’ competitive balance pick in the 2016 Draft in exchange for three Minor League pitchers.
However, the deal grew more complex as the day wore on, and eventually included the Atlanta Braves. Once the dust settled, the Dodgers acquired Bronson Arroyo, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, Latos, Morse, Jose Peraza and Alex Wood.
Atlanta received Zachary Bird, Hector Olivera, Paco Rodriguez and the Marlins’ competitive balance draft pick. Miami netted a trio of Minor League pitchers in Victor Araujo, Jeff Brigham and Kevin Guzman.
Both the Braves and Marlins also dumped salary on the deep-pocketed Dodgers. During a recent question and answer session on Twitter, Braves general manager John Coppolella expressed some regret over the complex trade:
Yes — bad trade for us and one that I wish we had back — all we can do is learn from it and move forward https://t.co/LXvZPoKSwK
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 24, 2016
Coppolella’s comments presumably stem from Olivera receiving an 82-game suspension last month under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. The suspension was retroactive to April 30 and runs through Aug. 1.
Olivera, who was highly regarded coming out of Cuba, signed a six-year, $62.5 million contract with the Dodgers in May 2015. His deal included a $28 million signing bonus, and he never reached the Majors with the club.
In 30 games with the Braves over parts of 2015 and 2016, Olivera hit .245/.296/.378 with five doubles, one triple, two home runs and 13 RBIs.
From the Dodgers’ perspective, Avilan, Johnson, Latos and Wood all had their share of struggles after the trade. Avilan and Wood were the most successful and are still with the organization. Latos was released last September, and Johnson was left off the Dodgers’ postseason roster.
Arroyo, who was recovering from Tommy John surgery, never pitched last season and predictably had his option for the 2016 season declined. Morse and cash considerations were immediately sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jose Tabata.
Peraza was included in a three-team trade with the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds during the offseason, which sent Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trayce Thompson to the Dodgers.
