:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44369510/usa-today-8100728.0.jpg)
Braves News
Braves "down the road" in trade talks with AL West Club for Justin Upton
So far there has been a lot of noise surrounding Justin Upton but nothing has happened yet. Reports from early Friday morning suggest that the Braves are in advanced discussions with an AL West team to finally trade Upton.
Braves being patient as trade market shakes out
This story dropped before the latest Upton rumor but MLB.com's Mark Bowman insists that the Braves remain patient but are actively exploring trades for a number of different players.
As recently as Wednesday, the Braves talked to at least six teams about potential deals that would involve either Upton, Gattis, Chris Johnson or B.J. Upton. In a number of the discussions with other clubs, Johnson has been packaged with Justin Upton and Gattis.
Andrelton Simmons: The Hitter
Excellent in-depth look by Talking Chop's Ian Morris on Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons and his makeup as a hitter.
Kris Medlen signs two-year deal with Royals
Kris Medlen is headed to the American League after agreeing to a two-year, $8.5 million deal with the Kansas City Royals. The deal also includes a third-year mutual option.
Medlen signed a deal that Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported includes a $2 million salary in 2015 with up to $4 million in addtional performance incentives, a $5.5 million salary in 2016 with up to $6 million in additional incentives, and a $10 million mutual option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout.
Smoltz defeats Hart in playoff at golf tourney
John Smoltz defeated John Hart in a playoff at a Florida charity Golf Tournament this past Sunday. Each finished the 73 hole tournament tied at 1-over-par. Smoltz won the tournament on the first playoff hole. The event raised in excess of $800,000 to benefit the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children.
Braves purchase land for Sun Trust parking
The Braves announced a land purchase on Wednesday that will serve as a parking option for Sun Trust Park. The land is a half mile from where the new stadium will be built and is 9.5 acres.
MLB News
Padres, Dodgers officially complete Matt Kemp trade
The teams agreed to a trade on Dec. 11 that sent Kemp from the Dodgers to the Padres in exchange for Grandal and pitching prospects Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin. Concerns over Kemp's physical, which revealed arthritis in both hips, temporarily kept the deal from going through. That also held up the official announcement of the Dodgers' trade with the Philadelphia Phillies for Jimmy Rollins because of Eflin's inclusion in the deal, which is expected to be officially announced soon.
Padres acquire Derek Norris from Athletics
The acquisition of Norris is the latest in a series of aggressive moves for the Padres, who have also acquired Matt Kemp and Wil Myers in recent days. The team seems to be stocking up on offensive pieces, with Norris joining new acquisition Ryan Hanigan as San Diego's new catching tandem in place of Yasmani Grandal and Rene Rivera, who are being traded to the Dodgers and Rays, respectively.