BREAKING: Braves trade Evan White, Tyler Thomas to Angels for infielder David Fletcher

The Braves also receive catcher Max Stassi in the deal, but with both Sean Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud in the fold, he's likely to get flipped to another team

The Atlanta Braves and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos have continued to be busy after the Winter Meetings, agreeing to a trade with the Los Angeles Angels. 

The Atlanta Braves are acquiring infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels for first baseman Evan White and right-handed reliever Tyler Thomas, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 8, 2023

The trade, which has yet to be confirmed by the team, sees them shed the salary of White, who was acquired by Atlanta in Sunday night's Jarred Kelenic trade with the Seattle Mariners. 

UPDATE: The Braves have confirmed the deal: 

#Braves and Angels Complete Four-Player Trade: pic.twitter.com/Z7DlIBrf8P

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) December 9, 2023

Fletcher, 29, is undoubtedly Atlanta's target in the deal. The six-year veteran batted a career-worst .247 for Los Angeles in 2023, playing in only 33 major league games due to hamstring issues and the promotion of top SS prospect Zach Neto, but he's a career .277 hitter with major league experience at second, short, third, and both corner outfield spots. 

Fletcher is owed $6.0M in 2024, the fourth year of a five year, $26M contract he signed with the Angels in 2021. He is under team control for $6.5M in 2025 and has two club options, for $8M in 2026 and $8.5M in 2027, both with $1.5M buyouts. 

Coming over in the trade as well is catcher Max Stassi, 32. He's in the final year of a three year, $17.5M contract and is owed $7M this season. (He has a $7.5M club option for 2025 with a $500,000 buyout). Deemed superfluous by the emergency of top prospect Logan O'Hoppe, Stassi missed the entire 2023 season due to the combination of a hip injury and a family medical issue (related to the premature birth of his child) that resulted in him finishing the season on the restricted list. 

As a defensively-oriented veteran joining a team with two veteran catchers in Travis d'Arnaud and Sean Murphy, it's assumed Stassi will be on the move in another deal, similar to how Atlanta moved pitcher Marco Gonzales shortly after acquiring him in their deal for Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic. 

Leaving Atlanta is first baseman Evan White and pitcher Tyler Thomas. White, 27, was acquired along with Gonzales in the Kelenic deal and was outrighted to AAA Gwinnett on Thursday. His trade removes $15M of salary obligations off the book across the next two seasons, with White owed $7M in 2024 and $8M in 2025 (as well as a $2M buyout of his 2026 club option, if declined.) 

Joining White is Thomas, 27, who was selected by Atlanta in Wednesday's Rule 5 draft. 

What it Means for Payroll

The salary implications for Atlanta are interesting on this deal. Assuming Stassi and his $7M contract moves to another team, Atlanta's swapped $15M in multi-year salary commitments for a minor league first baseman (White) for $14.0M of a veteran middle infielder that can provide defensive help at any infield spot, as well as corner outfield, for the next two seasons. 

Alex Anthopoulos and Braves are one of the big winners of the Winter Meetings

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