Just days after shipping Melvin Upton to the Toronto Blue Jays, the San Diego Padres are are looking to move another outfielder – Matt Kemp. The trade for Kemp allowed the Braves to ditch Olivera; who they have wanted to rid themselves of since the allegations of Domestic Violence were levied. He expects $6 million next season, $6.5 million in the year 2018, $7.5 million in the year 2019 and a whopping $8.5 million in 2020.
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Olivera was suspended 82 games by Major League Baseball after his arrest on April 13 for assault and battery. The trade is the latest among a series of deals the Padres have made in the past two months as they move to rebuild. The Braves also received a reported $10.5 million from San Diego in the trade to help offset Kemp’s salary.
The 31-year-old Olivera came to the United States from Cuba in 2015 and has played in just 30 games.
Kemp has posted a.262/.285/.489 with 23 home runs and 69 RBI in his second season with the Padres, who have worked to trade him for most of the previous year.
Kemp does bring more right-handed power to the Atlanta Braves and is a much better option than keeping troubled Olivera around.
OF Jabari Blash, who was with the Padres earlier in the season as a Rule 5 draft pick, will rejoin the Padres Sunday to replace right fielder Matt Kemp on the 25-man roster. He is hitting. 211 with no homers and 2 RBIs in six games this season.
Olivera hit. 214 with one homer in 12 games for two minor league teams on his rehab assignment and was 4-for-35 (.114) in nine games at Triple-A Gwinnett.
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He was arrested April 13 at a hotel near Washington, D.C., and Major League Baseball announced May 27 that he had agreed to the suspension, which was retroactive to April 30.
