Braves boost outfield with multiple trades

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was traded Friday by the Washington Nationals to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Max Scherzer and Trea Turner wearing Dodger blue. Kris Bryant heading to the Golden Gate. Javier Báez joining the Mets, Craig Kimbrel crossing town to the White Sox, José Berríos moving north of the border.

Now this truly was an All-Star trade deadline day.

After a run-up in which the likes of Nelson Cruz, Adam Frazier, Joey Gallo, Anthony Rizzo and other big names were swapped, even more changed teams during a whirlwind Friday ahead of Major League Baseball’s 4 p.m. Eastern deadline for deals.

From contenders boosting their roster to the also-ran Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals gutting theirs, this was a monster day for moves.

“They all feel busy, but today was nonstop,” said Cleveland Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti, who made three trades. “We executed a number of trades, but there were probably at least another dozen

other ones that we contemplated seriously at different points in time and exchanged different ideas.”

Several teams in the postseason hunt pursued arms, with the Toronto Blue Jays landing Berríos, the Philadelphia Phillies getting Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy, the Boston Red Sox

adding relievers Austin Davis and Hansel Robles, and the St. Louis Cardinals acquiring starters J.A. Happ and Jon Lester.

“I felt like this was one of the most active trade deadlines that I can recall,” said Atlanta Braves general manager

Alex Anthopoulos, who swung a slew of deals.

The Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest noise, getting Scherzer and Turner from the Nationals for a talented quartet of young prospects. The ace and star shortstop could help them close their gap against the San Francisco Giants, who lead the National League West Division and did just fine in landing Bryant from the Chicago Cubs for their lineup.

While much of the day hinged on which teams added players — Atlanta got outfielders Adam Duvall, Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler and reliever Richard Rodriguez, among them — it also was about which clubs broke apart.

The Cubs traded away major pieces from their 2016 World Series championship club, sending Báez to the New York Mets and Bryant to the Giants a day after shipping Rizzo to the New York Yankees. The Cubs also dealt Kimbrel, their dominant closer, to the White Sox, who sit atop the AL Central.

“I want to personally thank Anthony Rizzo, Javy Báez and Kris Bryant,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a released statement. “Together they played critical roles for one of the most successful runs in Chicago Cubs history.

“They each secured a place in the hearts of Cubs fans everywhere. While their days taking the field together as Cubs have come to an end, they gave us memories we will hold forever.”

The Nationals were busy, too. They traded away Scherzer and Turner, who played key roles in their 2019 title run, along with Lester, Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison. That came after they dealt Brad Hand, Daniel Hudson and Kyle Schwarber on Thursday.

“It’s a difficult decision to make, but oftentimes a decision is made for you,” Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said. “This year it was, and we recognized where we were and what work we had in front of us. We decided to begin a building process that will allow us to compete at the highest level.”

Rizzo joined fellow AllStar Joey Gallo with the Yankees in trades completed Thursday. New York added Los Angeles Angels starter Andrew Heaney shortly before the deadline Friday.

Rizzo was with his new team for Friday night’s road game against the Miami Marlins. While looking ahead, there was still time to remember the recent past.

“Did a lot of special things in front of a fan base that did not see a World Series in 108 years,” he said. “Those moments will never be taken away.”