The right-handed hitter is now on the restricted list serving an 82-game suspension from Major League Baseball for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
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The Braves have just one marquee everyday player, first baseman Freddie Freeman, and need more star appeal as they move a few miles north into a new suburban ballpark next year.
This season, he is hitting.262 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs. Kemp is expected to be in uniform for Tuesday’s series opener against the Pirates at Turner Field, after the Braves’ day off Monday.
Olivera is under control through 2020 for the Padres, and will be owed about $28.5 million by San Diego in that span. Los Angeles picked up a significant amount of his contract, with Atlanta pitching in some for his performance this year.
Olivera had initially signed a six-year, $62.5 million contract with the Dodgers after defecting from Cuba in March of 2015.
Interestingly enough, both Olivera and Kemp were originally acquired in deals with the Dodgers.
Kemp, 31, was traded to the Padres, from the Dodgers in 2014, where he spent the first eight years of his career.
Kemp, 31, hasn’t lived up to his All-Star form since being traded to San Diego two seasons ago. His best season was 2011 when he batted.324 and led the National League in homers (39) and RBIs (126) and finished second in the NL MVP balloting behind Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun.
Kemp still has power, with 24 home runs this season. According to David O’Brien of the AJC, “From the Padres’ perspective, trading Kemp would open a roster spot for one of their outfield prospects”.
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Olivera is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett but was removed from the lineup before Saturday night’s game.
