By: TJ Hartnett

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

I have to admit, I didn’t think it was possible, but the Braves traded away Matt Kemp to the Dodgers, got players in return, and didn’t have to eat his salary.

Now, it’s a slightly more complex deal than that, so let’s dig in.

The Braves shipped Kemp back to his old haunt in La La Land and in return the Dodgers sent first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, shortstop Charlie Culberson and pitchers Brandon McCarthy and Scott Kazmir, along with some cash considerations.

So, what’s the logic here? Well the Braves needed to make room in the outfield, which meant that either Kemp or Nick Markakis (or both) needed to go. I, for one, preferred to see Kemp draw the short straw but had honestly anticipated needing to eat all or most of his salary in either a trade for very little or straight up releasing him. So, I’m genuinely surprised to see this move.

Now, it’s not that the Braves are getting away with this scot free. Adrian Gonzalez only waived his no-trade clause because he was told he’d be a free agent.

The Braves obliged that caveat almost immediately, releasing A-Gone right after news of the trade broke.

So, they are still eating a big contract for a player that won’t be playing for them.

However, Gonzalez’s contract is up at the end of 2018, whereas Kemp’s was through 2019; so what Alex Anthopolous accomplished here was maybe the best-case scenario: taking a year off the financial burden that was Matt Kemp’s deal.

As for the other players, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Brandon McCarthy was a solid player for Los Angeles when he was healthy, going 6-4 with a 3.98 ERA. Injuries are his cross to bear, not having pitched over 100 innings since 2014.

Regardless, he’ll start the season in the rotation for Brian Snitker, until the time comes that a younger pitcher with upside usurps his position.

Kazmir is going to be a shot in the dark. He missed all of 2017 and the Braves will essentially just be hoping that they can get something out of the lefty.

Culberson will likely end up being the most useful of the acquisitions. He’s a backup infielder with experience at all three positions. You may know him from starting in the NLCS this year while Corey Seager was hurt. He’s arbitration eligible this season for the first time.

If you’re wondering why Anthopolous went for these four players, the answer lies within their contract expiration dates.

Gonzalez, as I mentioned, will be off the books next offseason and is already off the roster. Kazmir and McCarthy both have contracts that end after 2018 as well.

Culberson, by far the cheapest of the four, will either prove himself useful or be non-tendered. So, this trade, for the Braves, is less about the players exchanged than it is about the money they’re owed and how long they’re owed it.

Essentially, the trade is for 2019 financial flexibility. It’s a matter of taking on a little unwanted payroll now for the ability to take on wanted payroll later. It may seem like a lot to undertake just to unattached Matt Kemp’s salary, especially given that these players will almost certainly get jobs on the big-league club.

That’s an understandable concern. Braves fans would like to avoid more Bartolo Colon and see more of the farm system that’s been built up.

I would assuage those concerns by guessing that, for Kazmir and McCarthy in particular, the leash will be incredibly short. These are players the Braves acquired to help. If they do, great but are essentially they just monetary maneuverability.

If they don’t perform, well, the Braves’ hopes weren’t pinned on them to begin with.

And were you expecting a playoff run anyway?

This move is unlikely to pay off in 2018 but what is arguably the greatest free agent class of all time goes on the market next November and now the Braves have a better chance at playing ball.