Padres trade Kemp to Braves for Olivera

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After just a season and a half in San Diego, Matt Kemp is on the move again.

The Padres have traded the two-time All-Star to the Braves for troubled Cuban infielder/outfielder Hector Olivera, the teams announced Saturday evening.

News of a potential swap was reported by ESPN's Keith Law. Confirmation that a deal was close was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Kemp has a $21.5 million salary this year and is owed the same amount in each of the next three seasons.

San Diego is sending Atlanta $3 million this year as part of the trade: half on Aug. 15 and the rest on Sept. 15. From 2017-19, the Padres will pay the Braves $2.5 million annually, half each May 15 and July 15.

Kemp spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Dodgers before being traded to San Diego prior to the 2015 season.

Despite arthritis in both hips, Kemp could boost the weakest offense in the major leagues. Atlanta has baseball's worst record and ranks last in runs scored and homers. This season, Kemp is hitting .262 with 24 doubles, 23 home runs and 69 RBI.

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San Diego acquired Kemp, a two-time All-Star outfielder with the Dodgers, from Los Angeles in December 2014. It took several days to consummate the trade because Kemp had to be cleared medically.

The highly-touted Olivera signed a six-year, $62.5 million deal with the Dodgers in May 2015, but was traded to Atlanta less than three months later. The 31-year-old is serving an 82-game suspension stemming from an arrest on April 13. He was charged with one count of misdemeanor assault and battery. The suspension is scheduled to end on Monday. According to the Union-Tribune, the Padres will designate Olivera for assignment on Tuesday after he comes off the suspended list.

Atlanta acquired Olivera from the Dodgers last July 30 in a three-team, 13-player swap that sent Alex Wood and Jose Peraza to Los Angeles.

In 30 games over the last two seasons with the Braves, Olivera hit .245 with five doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI.

Olivera is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett but was removed from the lineup before Saturday night's game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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