Christian Bethancourt to Padres: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction
The Atlanta Braves have traded catcher Christian Bethancourt to the San Diego Padres for right-handed pitcher Casey Kelley and catcher Ricardo Rodriguez.
The Braves have been as active as any team this offseason, dealing key contributors Miller, Andrelton Simmons and Cameron Maybin in the last three weeks in part of a major overhaul to build for the future.
But they had an influx of catchers with the re-singing of A.J. Pierzynski and the addition of Tyler Flowers on Tuesday—meaning Christian Bethancourt was likely be moved.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Thursday the Braves were in talks with the Padres for the rising third-year player who has just 70 starts to his résumé.
Bethancourt was considered one of the game’s top prospects but has struggled mightily at the plate since breaking into the bigs in 2014. In his first two seasons, Bethancourt has a slash line of .219/.245/.527 with a 22.3 percent strikeout rate.
The Padres already have Derrick Norris as a primary backstop, but Bethancourt will be a reliable No. 2.
The Braves dealt ace Shelby Miller to the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend, leaving a gaping void in their rotation. Kelley, a 2008 first-round selection by the Boston Red Sox, will likely slide in somewhere in the middle. He pitched in just three games last season after missing all of 2013 and 2014 due to Tommy John surgery.
Rodriguez, 17, got his first professional experience last year with the Padres Dominican Summer League affiliate and Rookie-Level affiliate in the Arizona Summer League. He’ll likely join one of the Braves lower minor league clubs and continue to develop.
In the scope of the Braves’ overall approach to their long-term future, Thursday’s trade was logical.
