# Why Did the Braves Get Rid of Adam Duvall? A Deep Dive for Baseball Fans

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/why-did-braves-get-rid-of-adam-duvall/
- Published: 2023-10-30
- Author: Lillie Gabler
- Categories: [Tips](https://33rdsquare.com/category/home/tips/)

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As an avid Braves fan, I was surprised when the team traded away slugger Adam Duvall heading into the 2021 season. His powerful bat and strong outfield defense made him a valuable part of the Braves roster in 2019 and 2020. So why did the team decide to move on?

After doing some digging, it seems the Braves‘ reasons for parting with Duvall were mainly financial but also tied to a changing identity and declining production. As we‘ll explore together, payroll flexibility and roster direction played key roles in Atlanta‘s decision.

Grab your glove and let‘s take a deeper look at Duvall‘s time with the Braves, why they traded him, and how both teams fared after the deal!

## Duvall‘s Background and Time with the Braves

First, let‘s recap Duvall‘s history with the team:

### How Duvall Joined the Braves

The Braves obtained Duvall from the Reds in July 2019, trading pitchers Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler and outfielder Preston Tucker. Atlanta wanted to add power for a playoff push, and Duvall had been an All-Star slugger in Cincinnati in 2016 and 2017.

### Duvall‘s 2019 Season Stats

| Games | AVG | HR | RBI |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 57 | .267 | 16 | 33 |

He added 2 more homers in the NLDS loss to the Cardinals.

### Duvall‘s 2020 Season Stats

| Games | AVG | HR | RBI |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 28 | .237 | 9 | 33 |

Despite just 28 games, he tied for the team lead in home runs!

So in his time as a Brave, Duvall delivered solid production off the bench. But the team still decided to move on.

## Examining the Reasons Behind the Duvall Trade

After looking at all the evidence, I believe the Braves‘ rationale for trading Duvall boiled down to three main factors:

### Payroll Flexibility

Duvall was set to earn $3 million in 2021. Trading him freed up money to sign Ozuna and others.

### Declining Production

From 2019 to 2020, Duvall‘s OPS dropped over .080 points and his strikeouts rose. His offense seemed to be declining.

### Change of Direction

The Braves wanted more speed and youth. Duvall no longer fit the mold of the lineup they were trying to build.

The postseason likely also played a role. But based on the reporting, those three reasons appear to be the driving forces behind the trade.

Next let‘s look at the specifics of the Duvall deal.

## Breaking Down the Trade

The Braves traded Duvall to Miami on November 30, 2020 and received catcher Alex Jackson in return. Some key details:

- Duvall was set to earn $3 million in 2021, so Miami took on his full salary.
- Jackson had been a top prospect but struggled in limited MLB time with the Marlins.
- The Marlins wanted Duvall‘s veteran power bat to balance their young lineup.

Unfortunately for the Braves, Jackson did not pan out. He hit just .077 in 9 games before being let go in 2021.

Meanwhile, Duvall regained All-Star form with the Marlins:

### Duvall‘s 2021 Season with the Marlins

| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 138 | .228 | 32 | 99 | .816 |

So the trade looked like a win for Miami in year one. But there‘s still time for it to shift.

## How the Braves Filled Duvall‘s Role

Losing Duvall‘s production could have been tough. But the Braves did a nice job filling his bench spot by committee:

- **Ehire Adrianza** provided infield depth and speed
- **Guillermo Heredia** added outfield experience and pop
- **Stephen Vogt** (before injury) chipped in power from the catcher spot
- **Orlando Arcia** brought playoff-tested infield versatility
- **Eddie Rosario** was a key midseason trade acquisition

That group effectively recreated Duvall‘s well-rounded offensive production. And Rosario ended up winning World Series MVP!

## Duvall‘s Classy Response to the Trade

Given how much value Duvall brought to the team, he had every right to be upset. But he handled the trade with pure class:

> "It was an honor to put on that Braves uniform and I really enjoyed being a Brave."

He understood that baseball is a business but admitted wishing he could have stayed to defend their division crown. Overall though, he spoke gratefully of his time in Atlanta. Major respect for how Duvall responded.

## Grading the Trade and Takeaways

Looking back now with the full perspective, here‘s how I‘d grade the trade for each team:

**Braves** – B+

They had to move Duvall to accomplish their offseason goals. And they still won the World Series without him. But an A was only possible if they kept him.

**Marlins** – A-

Miami got back All-Star production from Duvall at a bargain. If he had stayed healthy and productive, this would be an A+.

**Key Takeaways:**

- The Braves prioritized payroll flexibility and lineup direction over keeping Duvall.
- Both teams achieved their main objectives through the trade in 2021.
- Long-term implications remain fluid as Duvall‘s future is uncertain.
- Duvall handled the difficult situation incredibly well.

So that covers my in-depth investigation into the Duvall trade! Let me know if you have any other questions, baseball fan! I‘m always down to talk shop.

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Source: [Why Did the Braves Get Rid of Adam Duvall? A Deep Dive for Baseball Fans](https://33rdsquare.com/why-did-braves-get-rid-of-adam-duvall/)