For every blockbuster that helps define a dynasty, there are trades a franchise would rather forget. The Atlanta Braves have built their legacy on smart front office moves — but not every gamble has paid off.
From prospects who became stars elsewhere to short-lived rentals that cost too much, these are the five worst trades in Atlanta Braves history.
1. The Mark Teixeira Deal (2007)
In July 2007, the Braves went all-in for power hitter Mark Teixeira, sending a massive package to the Texas Rangers: Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Teixeira hit well in Atlanta — .295 with 37 homers in 157 games — but the window was short. By mid-2008, he was gone to the Angels.
Meanwhile, Texas got multiple All-Stars. Andrus became a franchise shortstop, Feliz closed out a World Series, and Harrison was an All-Star starter. For the Braves, it was an expensive one-year push that never paid off.
2. Adam Wainwright To The Cardinals (2003)
The Braves acquired outfielder J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero from St. Louis in exchange for Adam Wainwright, Jason Marquis, and Ray King.
Drew was excellent in 2004, hitting .305 with 31 home runs. But he left after just one season.
Wainwright blossomed into a Cardinals ace, racking up over 200 career wins and anchoring their rotation for two decades. This one still hurts Braves fans who watched him dominate October in another uniform.
3. Jermaine Dye For Michael Tucker (1997)
At just 23, Jermaine Dye looked like a rising star in Atlanta. But the Braves dealt him to the Kansas City Royals for Michael Tucker and Keith Lockhart.
While Tucker and Lockhart became useful role players, Dye went on to enjoy a 14-year career with 325 home runs and a World Series MVP award with the Chicago White Sox in 2005.
The Braves gave up on a potential long-term slugger far too early.
4. The Craig Kimbrel Trade (2015)
On the eve of the 2015 season, Atlanta shocked the league by packaging Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr. to San Diego for Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, and prospects.
The deal was framed as part of a rebuild, but it never sat well with fans. Kimbrel remained one of the best closers in baseball, while the return produced little long-term value.
It symbolized a transition period for the Braves — but one that cost them a franchise cornerstone.
5. Len Barker For Brett Butler & Brook Jacoby (1983)
Fresh off a perfect game with Cleveland, pitcher Len Barker was seen as a frontline ace. The Braves traded Brett Butler, Brook Jacoby, and Rick Behenna to get him.
Barker never found consistency in Atlanta, posting a 4.34 ERA in four seasons. Butler, meanwhile, became one of baseball’s best leadoff hitters, tallying over 2,000 hits and nearly 600 stolen bases. Jacoby added two All-Star seasons in Cleveland.
Atlanta paid dearly for a name, not the production.
What Braves Country Should Remember
Even the best-run franchises have their misses. The Braves’ history is defined by smart trades that built dynasties, but these five deals show the other side of the ledger.
From losing Adam Wainwright to mortgaging the farm for Mark Teixeira, these trades stand as reminders of how costly one move can be.
